With the current economic woes, governments are looking at ways to trim costs. The burgeoning correctional system is one place being reviewed. Upwards of 25% of a state’s budget may be allocated to this concern. However it is unlikely that much can be spared from correctional healthcare budgets. Costs have been escalating for many reasons, not a small one is the increasing age of the inmate population. Information in this blog post comes from two excellent articles. The Council of State Governments published a report – Graying Prisons. Dr. Glenda Reimer’s extensively referenced article The Graying of the U.S. Prisoner Population appeared in the July, 2008 issue of the Journal of Correctional Health Care.
The Extent of the Problem
The elderly inmate (defined as over 50 years of age) is the fastest growing segment of the incarcerated US population. The National Institute of Corrections documents a 172.6% increase in the decade ending 2001 when a total of 113,000 inmates had this designation. This growth is expected to continue for many reasons including longer sentencing, the general aging of the US population as a whole, and get-tough-on-crime reforms.
An Aging Inmate is Older than You Think
Due to a tendency toward poor dietary and exercise habits, coupled with high levels of substance abuse, the inmate population has a physiologic age an average of seven to ten years older than chronological age. This is exacerbated by a general lack of access to health-care services and a poorer socio-economic background than the general public. In fact, a study by the Florida Department of Corrections found, in 2000, that two-thirds of the inmates surveyed had their first significant health care experience while in prison.
Most Common Chronic Conditions Affecting the Older Inmate
Elderly inmates have high levels of chronic illness that must be managed within the security environment. A study by the National Institute of Corrections found these conditions of greatest frequency:
- Arthritis
- Hypertension
- Ulcer Disease
- Prostate Problems
- Myocardial Infarction
Correctional Nursing Needed More Than Ever!
The increasing percentage of aging inmates and their corresponding chronic disease load is requiring an increase in need for correctional nurses. Government statistics do not seem to be kept on current and projected employment in correctional nursing. This needs rectified. Inquiries are in process.
Nurses are needed to provide patient education, medication compliance counseling, and management of the care coordination necessary to deliver chronic care is a security environment.
Systemically, some state governments have initiated designated facilities for housing long-term care and acute care delivery in a centralized fashion. Concentrating healthcare services can lead to cost savings overtime, but can be expensive to initiate.
The need for dedicated quality nursing care to the incarcerated population is great. This specialty nursing practice needs attention and increased visibility.
Newsletter Sign Up
Sign Up for the CorrectionalNurse.Net Newsletter so you don’t miss important information to help inspire your correctional nursing practice.
BONUS: A link to download my ebook "Correctional Nurse Legal Briefs: Important Information to Keep You Out of Court" is provided in the welcome email that arrives in your inbox a few minutes after you sign up.
As a dietitian I’m always thinking food and nutrients when it comes to health – we are what we eat afterall.
Do you see diet and nutrition playing a roll in disease prevention in the Corrections arena?
Good point, Illona: Diet is a big health issue both before and during incarceration. Working within the system to increase fruits and veggies while decreasing fried foods has been a help
Unfortunately, in Florida fruit has nearly disappeared in meals, replaced by an artificially colored red “fruit drink” that is anything but drinkable, yet it is pushed as an equivalent. Inmates are asking for what they used to have (in spare servings which were better than nothing): orange juice, bananas, oranges and apples. They are served TVP instead of meat, reduced calorie meals, and now a dearth of fruit — who can expect these men and women to maintain health? Fact is, they’re not. Weight loss and digestive complaints have resulted. The wardens respond by saying the menu was approved in Tallahassee so that’s what they get. That the current menu violates national dietary standards referenced in Chapter 33 of the FAC is obvious. Current budgetary savings plans will backfire when poor health among inmates explodes, regardless of their age.
It is unfortunate that these tight budgetary times are creating health challenges for inmates. As you say, the long term effects may be more costly than the short term gain. Thanks for your comments and for reading CorrectionalNurse.Net
Thank you for the information, my brother is in his 32nd year of a life sentence. He is insulin dependent and he shared the menu the institute offers the inmate. I compared the menu to the American Diabetes Assoc. standards. The prison menu fails to meet the nutritional ADA standards. My brother has had many balckouts due to the drop in sugar levels, as a result, many bandages on wounds have been witnessed by me during visits. The menu is loaded up with starches and carbs, lots of potatoes and pasta. Budget cuts over the years has led to the dietary and nutritional changes, which is understandable, but my brother is 51 going on 61. He will not last much longer. Thanks again for the information. dollarwbt@yahoo.com