[Elderly arrested people in correctional facilities Challenge for health care]

At present there is no systematic, nationwide collection of data about the health status and health care of elderly persons imprisoned in Germany. The health status is highly significant with regard to the (re)socialization of elderly prisoners. From an ethical point of view a highly developed country should provide a good quality health care even in prisons.

Using the example of male prisoners in the Federal State of Rhineland-Palatinate, a survey was carried out on the health status of elderly prisoners and the presence of functional handicaps.

A total of 222 elderly male prisoners in Rhineland-Palatinate who were at least 50 years old at the time of the quantitative analyses participated in the anonymous comprehensive survey by completing a questionnaire.

The elderly prisoners in Rhineland-Palatinate are concerned by age-related chronic diseases and functional handicaps significantly more often than the general extramural population.

The data obtained in this survey are essential for the development and implementation of targeted strategies of prevention and health promotion and for improvement in the health care of elderly prisoners.