The functional health needs of older persons in custody: A rapid review

The number of older persons in custody is increasing and older incarcerated individuals have higher functional healthcare needs and higher healthcare costs. Consideration of available measures and interventions to address functional decline, are therefore imperative given the importance of disability to healthcare spending.

To identify the existing literature describing the functional health needs of older incarcerated individuals.

This rapid review synthesized existing literature on the functional health of older incarcerated individuals. Three electronic databases and two correctional service health-related journals were searched. Bibliographic searches of seminal articles and key authors were conducted for thoroughness.

Fifteen articles were retained in the final analysis. The methods of the included studies were heterogenous. Consideration of basic self-care (activities of daily living) and functional mobility were the primary ways of capturing functional health. The concept of 'Prison ADLs' emerged and measured the unique aspects of correction-specific functional activities.

This review identified the existing literature on how the functional health of older incarcerated persons is operationalized and measured, and how it is considered within this unique context. The concept of 'Prison ADLs' provides insight into the functional experiences of this population. Additionally, performance across PADLs typically declines before abilities across traditional ADLs.