What happens when prisoners get old and infirm

[portocristo]

Just wondering, do they still sleep in a cell, what if they are incontinent or are not mobile, do the prison officers help them or take them to the loo? And if they can't feed themselves who helps them ?

There are secure hospitals should they need it. Depending on their crime and needs they might get moved to another facility that can care for them.

Some might be released to go home to die. it really depends on what they did and their risk profile.

Aw OK, just got thinking as my mum is now in a care home and needs so much help and support.

Provision seems very inconsistent chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/2149/documents/19996/default/

Remember that most prisoners only serve half their sentence, and are then released on licence, and even a "life" sentence has a minimum tariff after which a prisoner can be considered for parole if they are no longer a risk, and that tariff can be as low as 12 years although the average tariff is around 20 years.

I think most elderly folk needing that level of care are in their 80s or older - there are about 100 prisoners over the age of 80, 5 of whom are over 90. Nearly all of them were in their 70s or older when they committed their crime - anyone in the 60s or so when offending would be eligible for release before they get that old.

You may be interested in this report OP https://www.clinks.org/sites/default/files/2023-02/clinks_EL_no-place-for-old-men_FINAL.pdf

There are some prisons that provide an in house home care service for support with tasks such as washing, dressing, continence etc. Many use a "buddy" system too in which other prisoners support with low level needs.

Norwich HMP (as one example) has a specialist elder lifers unit which has equipment such as hoists etc to support with complex needs that care homes would usually accommodate.

@Forevermermaid that's an interesting concept and sounds expensive if their health has already made them unable to look after themselves never mind commit crime. If they are still Cat A due to connections that is also unsuitable. I wonder if whole life sentences are appropriate for the majority (say excluding terrorism) or a political football.

That's an interesting question as these days people are living longer plus historic crimes mean when things come to court often prisoners are in their 70s or older. I suppose there are probably not many places suitable for long-term care for prisoners who need geriatric care such as dementia etc. I am under the impression most hospitals in prison are for short-term illness more than long-term or permanent nursing. in prison many mentally ill people are which is no good for them and they don't receive the proper care they need so adding in the older people something needs to be sorted

Within prisons there is a building ( or at least a wing ) called Healthcare . It has civilian nurses ( non officers ) who are employed to work within the healthcare setting
it would hold prisoners who are deemed unable to cope with day to day living on a normal wing . This could mean the elderly & infirm , those with a life limiting illness , some mental illness health etc.