industry & policy
abuse issues and a largely sedentary lifestyle compound the
complexity of their needs, and can result in accelerated effects of
the ageing process.
We’ve got other older offenders who enter custody for historical
offences so they may be coming into custody for the first time,
and they may have a harder time with dealing with the adjustment
to prison and the loss of their independence.
What facilities are there for aged prisoners?
Most of the aged inmates are held in mainstream facilities. Where
they have medical or disability concerns, reasonable adjustments
are made. If an inmate has a mobility problem, we will ensure
they have a placement in a bottom bunk or that they are in a
ground floor unit rather than on the first floor.
There are several other housing options for elderly inmates
who have disabilities or higher needs. We have the aged care
rehabilitation unit, which caters for inmates with medium to high
care needs, and that’s in the Long Bay Hospital (Sydney), which is
run by Justice Health primarily and looks after medical needs and
people with more advanced dementia.
We also have the Kevin Waller Unit, which is a lower-needs care
facility at MSPC Long Bay. In that unit, we have inmates who have
more difficulties with mobility and early stages of dementia and
may need some kind of prompting.
Again, the mainstream correctional centres within Long Bay
per se have special areas which are currently designated for
housing older offenders.
What programs are there for those who have special needs
such as dementia or are wheelchair-bound?
Corrective Services staff, in accordance with a Justice Disability
Inclusion Action Plan 2015-2018 and the Disability Discrimination
Act 1992, aim to ensure that all offenders with a disability are
identified, assessed, and have equal access to support services
and programs within custodial corrections and community
corrections, the same as all other offenders.
Disability within Corrective Services is considered broadly and
includes many levels of impairment, including cognitive decline,
physical problems and mental health issues. So in relation to
dementia, the Statewide Disability Services has neuropsychologists
who conduct assessments on people with dementia every six
months to monitor for any cognitive decline. Then they provide
recommendations for the placement and management of these
inmates. Frail elderly offenders or those with more advanced
dementia may be placed in the high-needs facility, but the
majority of the elderly inmates are housed in mainstream centres.
How do you balance prison protocols while supporting older
inmates who need care?
The prison protocols do support the inmate care because we
have a duty of care to provide safe, secure, humane environments
for elderly inmates. The balancing is done both by considering
the rights of the individual and the older inmates and their needs
with the needs of the broader inmate population, and the security
needs to maintain their safety and security. ■
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