Nursing Homes: the place for elderly prisoners

America’s prison population is greying fast; it’s estimated that by 2030 up to a third will be geriatric prisoners. And with age often comes health issues and the need for specialist medical care. But prisons aren’t built to provide this nor are prison staff experts in giving this care. Which means that it can cost several times more to treat these individuals in prison than if they were released into specialist nursing facilities.  Before people worry about the threat to public safety of releasing elderly prisoners so they can get better and cheaper care in nursing homes, consider that people generally age out of crime, and recidivism rates for this group are far lower than for younger people who are released.  The situation is however made complicated by the fact that many nursing homes don’t accept people who are formerly incarcerated. Our host Cristina Quinn visits one of the nursing homes that does take in formerly incarcerated individuals, this being iCare’s 60 West facility in Rocky Hill, Connecticut, and finds out more about  their work, and the potential benefits for us all of having elderly prisoners in such a place.  Guests  Thomas Picard, Resident, iCare’s 60 West facility Mary Price, Senior Counsel, FAMM (Families Against Mandatory Minimums) David Skoczulek, President of Business Development and Communication, iCare Health Network Jess DeRing, Director of operations, MissionCare Health Scott Semple, Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Corrections 2014-19 Gary Bozette, Resident, iCare’s 60 West facility