*This study story was written for my Intro to Health Reporting class*
March 03, 2025
Older adults in prison experience significantly higher rates of disability compared to their non-incarcerated peers, according to a new study published in JAMA Network Open. The findings highlight the unique health challenges faced by older incarcerated individuals and raise concerns about the ability of prisons to provide adequate medical care.
Researchers found that incarcerated individuals aged 55 and older were more likely to report disabilities across multiple categories, including physical movement impairments, cognitive difficulties, and challenges with independent living and self-care. The study raises questions about whether the prison system, originally designed for younger individuals, is equipped to meet the needs of an increasingly older inmate population.
The study, led by researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, analyzed national data from the American Community Survey (ACS) spanning 2008 to 2022. It compared 32,623 incarcerated adults aged 55 and older to 13.8 million older adults living in the community.
Findings revealed that the prevalence of disability was significantly higher among incarcerated individuals, even after adjusting for demographic characteristics. The most striking discrepancy was in cognitive impairments: 15.2% of incarcerated older adults reported cognitive difficulties, compared to just 7.1% of their non-incarcerated peers.
The study also found that 25.7% of incarcerated older adults had physical movement difficulties, compared to 17.3% of those living in the community. Challenges with independent living (15.4% vs. 10.6%) and self-care (9.6% vs. 5.8%) were also more prevalent in the prison population.
Dr. Kate Miller, a researcher and one of the study’s authors, emphasized the significance of these findings, noting that prisons may not be adequately prepared to meet the growing healthcare demands of older incarcerated individuals.
“When we look at the different types of disability, we find particularly striking differences with regards to the prevalence of cognitive difficulties. What we take away from this is we have this growth among older adults in prison. This growth is coupled with a very high prevalence of disability,” Miller explained. “This really raises the questions about what care models and environmental policies are in place or could be put in place to address the care needs of this population.”
These challenges come at a time when correctional facilities are already facing increased scrutiny over their handling of elderly inmates. Amid unauthorized protests by correctional officers, multiple incidents at prisons across New York state have drawn attention to the treatment of older incarcerated individuals. Recently, 2 inmates died at Sing Sing, one of whom was elderly, and an elderly inmate died at the Auburn Correctional Facility, raising further concerns about medical care for elderly inmates and responsiveness in New York state prisons.
Zach Psick, a professor of sociology at the University of California, Davis, noted that prisons were never designed to accommodate the needs of older individuals.
“Prisons and jails were designed for young men who really don’t have a lot of health problems. And that’s where it is a controlled environment, their movement is heavily controlled,” said Psick. “So handrails, elevators, all this stuff that older adults would need was just kind of not even a thought.”
The study’s findings raise urgent questions about prison policies and healthcare. As the number of incarcerated older adults continues to grow, there is a reconsideration of the sentencing policies surrounding this population. Older incarcerated adults have the lowest rates of reoffending and pose little risk to the community, according to the Prison Policy Initiative.
“When we think about what those potential solutions are, we have to consider them in the context of a finite resource environment,” Miller explained.
There are calls for legislative reforms, including proposals for expanded parole eligibility and compassionate release programs for older incarcerated individuals with severe disabilities. A bill introduced in the New York State Senate seeks to grant parole eligibility to certain people aged 55 and older, adding momentum to discussions about criminal justice reform for elderly individuals.
Dr. Miller emphasized that more research and better data collection are needed to guide policy decisions and continued study into how prisons can adapt to meet the needs of aging populations.
“I think without better data, it’s going to be a real challenge for the field to move forward on a national scale. We can’t even begin, really, to solve problems and put forth solutions until we can clearly articulate what is the problem, what is the magnitude of the problem,” said Miller. “Those are like foundational information that is really necessary in order to have an intentional and targeted policy intervention or, healthcare, care program-based intervention.”
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