Lecture 11: Aging in Prison Flashcards
[4] Categories of “old”
- Young Old: 65 - 74 years
- Old Old: 75 - 84 years
- Oldest Old: 85 - 99 years
- Centenarians: 100+ years
Why is aging a big concern today? [2]
- Life expectancy has increased a lot in the past 100 years.
- Baby Boomers (born 1946 - 1964) are a large generation, increasing the need for health and long-term care.
Why Are Incarcerated Individuals Considered “Older” at 50? [5]
Factors that age them faster:
- Substance use
- Lack of medical care
- Poor diet/nutrition
- Mental health issues
- Each extra year in prison = 2 years lost in life expectancy.
What are the [3] trends regarding older adults in federal prisons in Canada?
- The average age of federally incarcerated people has increased.
- Big portion of incarcerated individuals are older adults.
- More older incarcerated women and Indigenous people has increased
Why is there a growing number of older adults in prison? [4]
- Many are serving life sentences, leading to an accumulation over time.
- Some are first-time offenders.
- Historic offences
- Increase of mandatory minimum sentences
What [3] types of offenses are commonly committed by older adults in prison?
- Long-term first-time offenses
- Late-in-life convictions
- Recidivist offenses
How is physical health different for older inmates? [4]
- Chronic illness is more common than in the general population.
- Many take multiple medications.
- Common health issues include being overweight, diabetes, Parkinson’s, etc.
- Common mental health issues include depression, anxiety, psychotic disorders, etc.
What [3] challenges exist in providing mental health services to older adults in prison?
- Limited access to psychologists
- “Lifers” get infrequent, brief psychiatric assessments.
- Many have completed their recommended programming, leading to inactivity
What is institutionalization? [1]
Developing adaptive skills for prison that are maladaptive outside
What are [6] psychological effects of institutionalization?
- Loss of autonomy
- Learned helplessness
- Suppressing emotions
- Depression, anxiety, hypervigilance
- Rigid thinking
- Difficulty adapting to change
- Reduced problem-solving skills
Institutionalization - [3] Behavioural & Social symptoms
- Over-compliance OR oppositional defiance
- Withdrawal OR aggression
- Social isolation
What [5] other issues might older incarcerated adults face?
- Health Problems – Chronic illness, unaddressed medical issues, pain management, and lack of psychological care.
- Social Isolation – Loss of family and friends, loneliness, and feeling forgotten or “warehoused.”
- Safety Concerns – Bullying, fear of violence, and repeated trauma.
- Lack of Purpose – Boredom, inability to do leisure activities, and being forced to work past retirement.
- Physical Limitations – Difficulty moving around the facility and accessing necessary support.
What [6] resource deficiencies exist in managing older adults in Canadian prisons?
- Long waits for psychological assessments
- Few gero-psychiatric units
- Staff not trained to manage their care
- High-needs older adults in segregation units
- Staffing shortages
- Peer caregivers with minimal training
What were [5] key findings from the Office of the Correctional Investigator and the Canadian Human Rights Commission?
- Older Inmates Are “Warehoused” – They are kept in prison with no real support or plan for release.
- Prisons Aren’t Built for Aging – Facilities and staff are not equipped to handle older adults’ needs.
- Healthcare Costs Are Rising – More older inmates mean higher medical expenses for the system.
- Few Release Options – It’s hard for older inmates to get compassionate or medical parole.
- Lack of Community Support – There aren’t enough alternative housing or care options outside prison.
Why do older inmates sometimes request solitary confinement? [1]
Fear for safety
Why are older inmates forced to work? [1]
To avoid punishment like isolation or loss of income
What types of abuse do older inmates face? [3]
- Bullying & victimization
- Medical neglect
- Lack of access to necessary medical items (e.g., mattresses, orthopedic shoes)
What [3] release options exist for older adults in prison?
- Compassionate release for terminally ill (difficult to obtain)
- Medical release based on health
- Medical parole, geriatric release models
What is compassionate release? [1]
Releasing terminally ill inmates to die in the community
Why is compassionate release difficult to get? [3]
- CSC supports the release
- Parole Board might still reject it (or takes to long)
- inmates often die before being released
Does the risk of reoffending increase or decrease with age? [1]
Decreases
Why is keeping older inmates in prison costly? [1]
They require expensive medical care and pose little risk to society
How could the justice system improve release options? [3]
- Increase medical parole for older, low-risk inmates
- Create nursing homes for aging ex-inmates
- Expand funding for halfway houses
