Dementia in prisons: the Admiral Nurse offer

Abstract

Background: Dementia is an increasingly common condition, affecting over 50 million people worldwide, with approximately 850 000 living with dementia in the UK. In recent years, there has been a significant rise in the number of older prisoners, many of whom may also have dementia; however, there is little in the literature about the needs of this population. This is the first in a series of clinical articles on dementia in underserved populations. Aims: To explore current literature; academic, policy and guidance to develop an understanding of what is currently known about this population. Methods: A literature review. Findings: There is insufficient data on the amount of dementia in the ageing prison population and limited research that defines the needs of this underserved population. This results in prison services often failing to meet the needs of this underserved population, with prison staff struggling in this regard due to limited knowledge, resources and training. The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman argues the failure to strategically respond to this population leads to each prison and its local healthcare providers being left to respond in a piecemeal fashion. Conclusions: This paper discusses the demographic changes related to prisoners with dementia and details how Dementia UK and Admiral Nurses can support a specialist care solution to this underserved population.