Question

How does the incarceration of elderly prisoner impacts health care costs, correctional programs, and the physical environment of this special population? Does the same consideration for health needs extend to the COVID-19 pandemic?

Answer 1

Incarceration of elderly and the health care cost:

Incarceration means the state of being confined or imprisonment. Elderly prisoners are the prisoners, who are having the age above 55 years. Reports show that , In US , the number of elderly prisoners have increased considerably in the last decades. The number of elderly prisoners were 43, 300 in 1999 and in 2016 the number is increased to approximately 164,400. When considering the total prison population the percentage of elderly increased from 3%( 1999) to 11 % in 2016.

Health care cost and the need for health care of the elderly prisoners are more when comparing with the elderly in the general population. It is because of the increased rate of chronic and terminal illness such as impaired mobility, vision problems, dementia etc. in elderly prisoners than the General population. It may be due to the restricted physical environment, less preventive and promotive health activities, stress and isolation of elderly prisoners. Because of the increased need of health care services, elderly population impact deeply the prison budget. According to National institute of corrections , the annual health care cost is 3 times more when an elderly get admitted to the prison. Other prison reports show that health care cost is 14 times( for medications) more per person for the elderly when comparing with a young prisoner. Elderly prison population have a huge impact on annual health care cost of the country.

COVID 19 Pandemic is a devastating disorder, which adversely affect the health and quality of life of the General population as well as the prisoners. Ones spread, it is difficult to wipe off from the population. Elderly inmates should get the same consideration during COVID 19 as how they get early for the illness. Prisoners, even though they are in punishment for corrections, they are human beings, and have to meet their basic needs. Medical care is a basic need and right of a person. It is coming under human rights so there should not be any partiality in delivering the medical care for the elderly prisoners. They are prisoners, they experience all types of punishment physically, emotionally and they are isolated from the public, but the provision of basic physiological needs and medical care is the Government's or country's responsibility. Otherwise it become a breach of human rights.

Health needs during the COVID 19 Pandemic such as medical care, preventive measures ( provision of sanitizer, masks) should be delivered to the Country's prisoners also.