**7. Policy to practice recommendations**

#### **7.1. Prisoner/individual**

• Policies developed for screening prisoners on admission for cognitive impairment and then regular health checks with an annual cognitive impairment screen

**7.3. Workforce**

*Correctional employees*

management.

*Healthcare employees*

the community.

**Author details**

**References**

**7.4. Environment/setting**

• Training and education for all correctional employees including:

○ Specific aged care and support for frail and aged prisoners.

○ Early identification assessment including screening tools

○ Resources to identify strategies for identification and referral, as well as behaviour

Re-Framing and Re-Thinking Dementia in the Correctional Setting

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.73161

139

• Development of partnerships with organisations who manage aged and dementia care in

• Modification of a specific setting or area in a timely manner for older prisoners with aged

[1] Australian Government. 2015 Intergenerational Report Australia in 2055. Parkes, ACT:

○ What is cognitive impairment and dementia?

• Training and education in aged care including:

○ Management and treatment of dementia.

○ Comorbidities in the older prison population.

specific healthcare issues or cognitive impairment.

\*Address all correspondence to: sherryl.gaston@unisa.edu.au

Sherryl Gaston1,2\* and Annabel Axford<sup>2</sup>

1 University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia

Commonwealth of Australia; 2015

2 University of South Australia, Adelaide, Australia


#### **7.2. Management/systems**

	- Between general correctional services and correctional healthcare services to provide timely healthcare when needed and streamline prisoner access.
	- For processes in areas where prisoners with cognitive impairment and dementia are located to enable recognition and management strategies, as well as resources for support.
	- Adopting the World Health Organisation's guide to Health in prisons standards and principles.

#### **7.3. Workforce**

**7. Policy to practice recommendations**

• Policies developed for screening prisoners on admission for cognitive impairment and then

• If a prisoner is suspected of cognitive impairment on admission then allocation to a desig-

• Development of activities and work in which older and infirm prisoners are able to

• Development of a program for screened prisoners to become buddies or carers for those unable to care for themselves (potentially where the carers could do further study and receive a certificate at the end of their time in prison for potential employment prospects

• Development of a discharge policy for prisoners with cognitive impairment or dementia back into the community where there are designated supports in place for the prisoner, their carer and the community (for example ensuring medical and community supports

○ Between general correctional services and correctional healthcare services to provide

○ For processes in areas where prisoners with cognitive impairment and dementia are located to enable recognition and management strategies, as well as resources for support.

○ Adopting the World Health Organisation's guide to Health in prisons standards and

• Improved coordination and communication between general correctional services and correctional healthcare services to avoid cancellation of health appointments outside of the

• Development of a regular training schedule for all staff working in areas where there are, or may be, prisoners with cognitive impairment. This should be developed by accessing

• Support process developed for regular staff debriefs as well as ad hoc sessions after an

organisations that specialise in the areas of aged care and dementia care.

timely healthcare when needed and streamline prisoner access.

regular health checks with an annual cognitive impairment screen

nated safe area with further assessments and referrals to follow.

**7.1. Prisoner/individual**

138 Cognitive Disorders

participate.

on release).

are in place).

**7.2. Management/systems**

• Policy development

principles.

incident.

prison or specialist visitors into the prison.

#### *Correctional employees*

	- What is cognitive impairment and dementia?
	- Resources to identify strategies for identification and referral, as well as behaviour management.
	- Specific aged care and support for frail and aged prisoners.

#### *Healthcare employees*

	- Comorbidities in the older prison population.
	- Early identification assessment including screening tools
	- Management and treatment of dementia.

#### **7.4. Environment/setting**

• Modification of a specific setting or area in a timely manner for older prisoners with aged specific healthcare issues or cognitive impairment.
