Elderly Inmates

An ordinary aging population if often associated with different complications and overwhelming demands. Old people require hearing aids, walkers and close care as that live through their sunset days. Elderly inmates are no different.

Their needs are even considered more than those of the ordinary population due earlier drug and alcohol abuse. According to past research such inmates are considered to be seven years older than their age mates outside prison walls due to stress undergone in prison. The poor diet compromises their health and different illnesses are contracted in the process. Many of these prisoners suffer diseases such as diabetes and Hepatitis C. Others depend on dialysis for waste removal or suffer form cancer.

Elderly female inmates undergo more suffering due to their distinct needs. They lack necessary health initiatives such as breast cancer and cervical check ups besides nutritional meals with calcium. Their few numbers are often to blame for their neglection. Moreover, the situation for the elderly inmates is even worsened by the harassment from the younger generation. Therefore the holding of these elderly prisoners in the conventional prisons only perpetuates the administration of poor healthcare, victimization and increased costs of their maintenance. A working paper on California prison reform offers valuable data regarding this issue.

It explores the elderly prisoners’ problems and the costs that housing such inmates add to the California budget. It gives a realistic situation of the current number of elderly prisoners in the Sate elaborating on the categorical classification. Such information is vital in comprehending the state of the situation even in other states. The paper also offers useful recommendations to alter the present situation. These include separation of prisoners based on their age or risk level (Gubler, 2006). Taylor, on the other hand, indicates that the number of elderly inmates (55years and above) has been on the rise since 1985.

He mentions the problems faced by elderly prisoners and how taking care of such prisoners can prove rather expensive. In conclusion, it offers recommendations to curb the ssituation by advocating for the increased training of the staff in handling elderly prisoners (Dang, 2005).