The elderly population in the United States is increasing. As this happens, the population of elderly convicts increases as well. Providing proper medical help for these people is important. It is important in keeping inmates safe and protecting their rights. But, getting the right care for elderly inmates can be a challenge. It can be expensive to provide the right medical help for these inmates. Some incarceration facilities also lack the resources to give the right medical attention. This is because many elderly people need intensive medical care. If you have an elderly family member who is incarcerated, this does not mean that their medical needs should get ignored. Here, I discuss some of the options for elderly convict care.
Options for Elderly Convicts
Connecticut is one of the first states to take action. They want to solve the elderly convict care problem. In the past, states have attempted to partner with private nursing homes. They wanted to establish medical parole programs. These programs would allow convicts to get care in regular nursing homes. But, many facilities did not want to partner with jails and prisons in order to make this happen. Another option is to release elderly prisoners in compassionate release. This gives inmates who are sick or dying the opportunity to live the rest of their lives outside of jail. But, courts do not always approve compassionate release. This leaves many sick elderly convicts stuck in prison.
While these options did not work, Connecticut had a different idea. In 2013, Connecticut opened a different nursing home facility. This facility is specifically for those in Connecticut prisons and mental illness institutions. The facility is open to the public. Anyone can apply to live at this facility. But, the majority of residents are elderly prisoners.
Nursing Home for Elderly Convicts
Connecticut has had mixed success with this nursing home facility. The facility is in Rocky Hill. The state hoped that Medicaid would pay for some of the cost of care of these residents. So far, this has not happened. But, the facility provides a model for similar facilities. Some states have shown interest in adopting this method. They want to do this in order to help elderly prisoners. As the prison population continues to age, this option and other similar ones might become more popular. Connecticut’s elderly prisoner care facility will save the state money. This is the case when it comes to caring for these elderly prisoners. In the future, saving money and treating elderly prisoners humanely will become even bigger priorities.
If you have an elderly relative who is currently incarcerated in Connecticut, they might need serious medical attention. If this is the case, you can try to get them into the facility in Rocky Hill. This can help your loved one manage their pain and enjoy a better quality of life. If you are interested in this facility or one like it, contact a lawyer for more help. A lawyer can represent your loved one and make sure that they get the treatment that they deserve.
