Older people face neglect in prison

The Prison Service is failing to meet the specialist health, social
and rehabilitation needs of older prisoners, says a new report by
the Prison Reform Trust.

The report encourages the Prison Service to focus more on social
care provision, develop appropriate education and rehabilitation
programmes, and look at the specific resettlement needs of older
prisoners, who now number over 1,200.

It reveals that more than 80 per cent of elderly prisoners have a
longstanding chronic illness or disability, more than half suffer
from a mental disorder, and many have no family or community
links.

– Growing Old In Prison from www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk