The health-related concerns of older prisoners: implications for policy

This paper examines the sociodemographic characteristics, health condition, and problems in the activities of daily living of two groups of older Texa s state prisoners. The research group, assigned to a geriatric facility, we re primarily Angles who had committed violent crime. Few admitted to having a drinking problem but most admitted to a daily smoking habit. Most rated their current health condition as fair or poor; many used special equipment to aid their movement and breathing. Their self-rated health condition was worse than that of a comparison group of older inmates drawn from the gene ral population of the prison. Inmates and health-care providers agreed that separate facilities for older prisoners are desirable. The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications for prison management and future pol icy.