Understanding Elderly Inmates

Study Notes

Elderly inmates are 50 years of age and older.
Elderly inmate life expectancy can be lower due to their experiences in and out of prison.
Most elderly inmates experience normal physical and physiological changes and can develop certain medical conditions.
Elderly inmates may experience changes in their eyesight and hearing.
Elderly inmates may experience a change in their sense of touch, making them less likely to feel surface pain and notice injuries.
Elderly inmates have a higher risk of falls due to loss of balance.
Elderly inmates are more susceptible to heat stroke, heat exhaustion, and hypothermia.
Elderly inmates experience loss of muscle flexibility and strength, which makes performing daily tasks more difficult.
Elderly inmates may experience a decrease in cognitive ability, leading to slowness in thinking, finding the right words, or identifying objects.

Some elderly inmates have chronic medical conditions, such as incontinence, bedsores, and dehydration.
Depression and anxiety are common mental health issues affecting elderly inmates.
Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are also common among elderly inmates, requiring long-term management and care.
Sundown syndrome may be present in inmates with Alzheimer’s or dementia, characterized by wandering, mood swings, and becoming demanding, suspicious, or disoriented.

Always treat elderly inmates with dignity, respect, and patience.
Speak directly to the inmate and establish eye contact.
Speak loudly only if the inmate indicates they cannot hear you.
Include elderly inmates in all discussions concerning their welfare.
Adjust the manner of communication based on any disabilities or limitations.
Elderly inmates can be submissive and more apt to follow the rules.
Elderly inmates are less apt to play games, but can manipulate officers through sympathy.

Increase the number of rounds when monitoring elderly inmates.
Observe if an inmate is moving around or breathing while in bed.
Monitor restrooms and showers more often due to potential falls or difficulty using facilities.
Be aware that elderly inmates may have items in their locker that are different from the general population, such as hearing aid batteries, varicose vein socks, adult diapers, catheters, and prosthesis.
Pay attention to expiration dates on packaged foods and encourage inmates to dispose of expired food items as they are more prone to getting sick.

Elderly inmates may have physical limitations such as missing limbs, inability to move about, deafness, and blindness or limited vision.
Elderly inmates who cannot walk will require a walker or wheelchair.
Elderly inmates may need adapted eating and drinking utensils.
Reasonably accommodate inmates when asking them to perform tasks or follow directions.
Allow elderly inmates more time to get where they need to be due to mobility challenges.
Be aware that standard physical control measures and verbal directions used with younger populations may not work for elderly inmates.
Assign jobs based on an inmate’s physical limitations, medical grade, and classification.

Elderly inmates might falsely claim to have a physical limitation to avoid following commands or gain sympathy.
Give the inmate another action to perform or task that will achieve a similar result when an inmate claims a physical limitation.

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