Older Prisoners and Health Self-Management: Policy, Practice, and Legal Issues

• In Event: Posters II

Abstract

Over the past several decades the general aging of the prison population has raised concerns about the American correctional systems' ability to address the needs for the increasing number of inmates with chronic health conditions. Among the non-incarcerated populations, there has been a general movement in the health and long-term care systems to promote patients' ability to self-manage their chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, HIV/AIDS, and other disabilities. These practices have led to improved physical and mental health outcomes, while also resulting in reduced health care costs. However, little attention has been placed on prisoners' experiences with health self-management, even though the health costs associated with housing older inmates is putting enormous financial strain on state and federal budgets. This paper provides an analysis of the policy, practice, and legal issues as it pertains to health self-management among prisoners. More specifically, we explore the health and demographic trends that require an increased emphasis on self-management for prisoners with chronic health conditions, the legal and administrative policies that promote and constrain prisoners' ability to self-manage health, and model programs that can be adapted for use in prison environments.

Authors

• Jill K. Doerner, University of Rhode Island

• Anita N. Blowers, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

• Nicole Ruggiano, University of Alabama

• Andreja N. Lukic, Florida International University