Mental and Physical Health of Older Incarcerated Persons Who Have Aged in Place in Prison

This study describes physical and mental health of incarcerated males aged >= 50 years who spent at least 20 consecutive years in prison, comparing those with life sentences (lifers) with those expected to be released/paroled. Data included demographics, chronic medical conditions, self-reported and objective disabilities, depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation (SI), and social support. The 65 participants (M-age = 56.9, SD = 6.6) were racially diverse (40% White, 51% Black, 9% Hispanic/Other), incarcerated for M = 26.6 (SD = 4.5) years, and 34 (52%) were lifers. Among the 39 (60%) of participants with visitors, lifers had lower social support scores (p = .005). After controlling for age, race, and chronic conditions, lifers reported disability in a higher number of activities (p < .001), and had higher depressive symptoms (p = .08) and SI scores (p = .04). Health-related differences between lifers and those expected to be released have implications for prison systems including staff training, advance care planning, and need for expanding prison-based hospice programs.

Automated summary

This study examined the physical and mental health of incarcerated males aged 50 and above who spent at least 20 years in prison, comparing lifers and those expected to be released. The findings suggest that lifers experience lower social support, more disabilities, higher depressive symptoms, and higher suicidal ideation scores compared to those expected to be released. These health-related differences have implications for prison systems in terms of staff training, advance care planning, and the need for expanding prison-based hospice programs.