Meeting the needs of older people in prison

1. Meeting the needs of older people in prison 2nd October 2013

2. Prison Reform Trust • Research programme • Media and policy work • Advice and information service • Website e-newsletter • Factfile

3. Current projects • Outreach and education • Care not custody • Reducing women’s imprisonment

4. Context • Cuts • Changes • Competition • Crowding

5. Doing Time

6. Key questions • How old is an older prisoner? • Who is an older prisoner?

7. Older prisoners 1) Numbers of people over 60 – fastest growing group in prison population 2) Needs -harder to detect/identify needs

8. Needs - overview • Standards of accommodation vary • Some older prisoners are not having their social care needs assessed or adequately met • Lack of appropriate activities and isolation • Sentence progression and resettlement needs not always met • Healthcare improved over last few years but screening and preventative health care not routinely available

9. Accommodation I can’t get my wheelchair through the door of my room and I have to try and get from the entrance to my bed Because I need a walking stick I can't have a shower because I might slip and there is nothing to hold on to or chairs to sit on. I have a heart condition - and can’t get to the library or education I have to stay in this unit all day long.

10. Allocation and accommodation

11. Social care • I could only obtain one small walking stick to help me get around. It took healthcare staff over six weeks to find me two longer sticks to support myself. • I have bladder trouble especially at night and I often wet my clothes and bedding. I am very embarrassed about this and don’t want to be a nuisance.

12. Social care • Care Bill currently in parliament – clarifies responsibility (questions on resources, liaison and safeguarding)

13. Activities • As a 60 year old I pride myself that I can keep up with the younger ones – that includes down at the gym. I don’t want to be written off yet – there’s still plenty of life in the old dog! • I started yoga and it was great. Then they said it was detox yoga. Most of the women with drug problems are younger. I started doing meditation and the same thing happened – it became detox meditation!

14. Sentence progression and resettlement • None of us can be sure if or when we will ever get out. • I’ve done all that they have asked me to do for over 20 years and I am tired of going on in the hope that if I do one more course I will be released to spend my last few years in freedom. • Who’s going to employ me? I’m three years away from my bus pass.

15. Healthcare • I was given no health check and my blood pressure wasn't taken - I could tell it was high because of what I was going through – I was transferred to the prison and something was done –the nurse was great • We were cut up when he told us he had terminal cancer and only had a short time to live. We heard through the grapevine that the prison security would not allow him to go out….

16. Prison’s own assessments of their services for older people 1-5 1 – full participation 5 - little participation

17. What makes a difference? • Action plans • Core day unlock • Groups and socialisation • Staff lead engaged (training and management support)

18. Current situation • Awareness of need growing • Many pockets of good practice • Social care responsibility has been clarified • End of life care improving • But no national strategy ……..

19. Prison Reform Trust contacts: • Freephone line for prisoners 0808 802 0060 • Freepost address : • Prison Reform Trust • FREEPOST ND 6125 • London • EC1B 1PN • francesca.cooney@prisonreformtrust.org.uk • Direct line: 0207 689 7727

20. Thank you for listening!