The Estelle center is equipped to handle the geriatric population and includes a skilled nursing facility. But the state is not presently prepared to deal with an expected population explosion of older inmates, Sapp said. Elderly prisoners already account for three times as many new admissions as younger prisoners. Overall, the number of elderly offenders increased by more than 86 percent from 1994 to 1998, more than twice the 35.4 percent growth rate of the rest of the prison population. Complex needs Treating any prisoner is a complex undertaking.
Security is the primary concern and can complicate treatment.
In Texas, the entire prison population is served by either the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston or the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center at on-site clinics, infirmaries, and convalescent hospitals and medical centers. But for elderly prisoners, age-related problems are compounded by facilities that are poorly equipped to deal with gerontological illnesses, especially illnesses that have been compounded by years of neglect. Our staff will be trained to deal with the increase in the number of older prisoners, but balancing care and custody is necessary when you work in a prison. We tell every nurse we hire that they are also a correctional officer. Some say the extra training may not be enough.