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BACKGROUND: little is known about the treatment needs of older prisoners and to what extent they are being met. SUBJECTS: representative sample of 203 sentenced prisoners aged 60 and over in 15 prisons in England and Wales. DESIGN: case notes were surveyed using a standardised proforma and information on current medication was collected. RESULTS: three-quarters of older prisoners were prescribed medication. Those with cardiovascular, respiratory and endocrine health problems were prescribed medication that was mostly appropriately targeted. In contrast, only 18% of inmates with recorded psychiatric morbidity were prescribed psychotropic medication. CONCLUSIONS: reviewing the medical records of older prisoners and considering the appropriateness of their current medication regime would be a primary care intervention that could significantly improve the health of this marginalized group.

Original publication

DOI

10.1093/ageing/afh113

Type

Journal article

Journal

Age Ageing

Publication Date

07/2004

Volume

33

Pages

396 - 398

Keywords

Aged, Data Collection, England, Health Services Needs and Demand, Humans, Prisoners, Wales