Growing Old behind Bars: The Health Profile and Healthcare Needs of Older Men

Kathryn M. Nowotny, University of Colorado, Boulder
Alice Cepeda, University of Southern California
Laurie James-Hawkins, University of Colorado, Boulder

Although knowledge on the health of older prisoners is limited, research has documented that older adults in prison are not a healthy group. Research is needed to identify the prevalence of co-occurring mental and physical health conditions in older prisoners. This study examines the multimorbidity of chronic conditions including diseases and impairments among elderly (age 50+) male inmates. A descriptive analysis identifies the comorbid and non-comorbid prevalence rate for each of 13 chronic conditions as well as the average number of chronic conditions associated with the index condition. A Latent Class Analysis results in a 3 class solution: 1) healthy aging, 2) unhealthy aging, and 3) high risk aging. Chi-square and one-way ANOVA and multivariate logistic regression identifies the social risk factors associated with each health class. Identification of these health profiles will aid in providing appropriate multimorbid care models for the elderly population in prison.