Men’s Health Across the Lifespan: Health and Wellbeing of Older Male Prisoners

Abstract

Introduction: Older men aged 50 years and over are the fastest-growing cohort in the prisons of the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK). This reflects wider demographic change, such as increased life expectancy, as well as harsher sentencing policies, and an increased eagerness of courts to pursue historical offenses particularly relating to sexual crimes. Research has shown that older men in prison often experience poorer physical health than younger prisoners and those with similar age in the general public. However, to date, no such study has explored the health-related needs of older men held in Northern Ireland prisons. The aim of this research was to explore the health and wellbeing needs of older men held in custody in NorthernIreland.Method: A questionnaire was completed by 83 men aged 50 years or over, who were in prison in Northern Ireland in 2016. Comparisons were made with similar community-based surveys.Results: The data showed that on many indicators, older prisoners experience worse health than their peers living in the community.Conclusion: These findings suggest that there is a need for appropriate healthcare planning for older men in prison which recognizes how their health may differ from other age cohorts within prison, as well as from those living outside a custodial establishment.

Elderly People and Discrimination: Prevention and Reaction

“…The findings from the study conducted in two prisons in Northern Ireland in 2016 indicated that a significant majority of prisoners aged 50 years or over were receiving medication for stress, anxiety, or depression. This rate was five times higher than that observed among older men in the community (Lawrence & Devine, 2022).…”

“…In the prison environment, specific challenges related to accessing different areas of the prison were further explored, pointing to difficulties accessing toilet facilities during a locked regime. Despite these challenges, the majority of prisoners aged 50 years or over reported receiving no help with their needs, highlighting potential gaps in support (Lawrence & Devine, 2022). A similar observation has been made in other studies that also highlighted the inadequacy of the prison system in addressing the unique needs of older prisoners, further negatively affecting their overall incarceration experience (Peixoto et al, 2022).…”

“…Earlier research has consistently demonstrated that imprisoned individuals, regardless of age, report lower levels of perceived health and quality of life compared to the general population (Chung et al, 1998;Lawrence & Devine, 2022). Moreover, both the impact of the prison environment and the necessity of customized healthcare planning to address the specific health needs of older prisoners are emphasized, acknowledging the importance of addressing their unique challenges within the prison system (Lawrence & Devine, 2022). Additionally, there is a need for improved release planning and addressing the specific needs of older prisoners (Forsyth et al, 2015).…”

“…Considering healthy lifestyles and perceptions of health improvement among older men in prison, the recent data revealed that nearly 40% of prisoners identified as living an unhealthy life, compared to 15% of community respondents (Lawrence & Devine, 2022). As explained by the authors, this difference may originate from lifestyle factors imported from the community, such as addictions and poor mental health, as well as the challenges of maintaining a healthy lifestyle in prison.…”

“…When older prisoners' ability to perform basic activities of daily living, such as walking, dressing, and feeding oneself were explored, results showed that approximately one-third of participants reported difficulty with at least one activity, with 18% experiencing difficulty with two or more activities, according to Lawrence and Devine (2022). The most common challenges to prisoners aged 50 years or over were related to mobility, eyesight, and hearing.…”