Dr. Stephanie Grace Prost and a team of Investigators at the Kent School of Social Work, University of Louisville received recent approval from the Commissioner at the Kentucky Department of Corrections to conduct a comprehensive multi-site and multisystemic study regarding older adults in Kentucky state prisons. From a strengths-based perspective, the study seeks to identify and describe the experiences of incarcerated older adults’ through self-reporting, institutional record review, and focus groups conducted with several stakeholder groups in Kentucky state prisons. Investigators will also work to identify and describe the strengths and barriers of programming and services for incarcerated older adults in these prisons.

Findings presented by the Crime and Justice Institute (September 20, 2017) detail that between 2012 and 2016, the Kentucky Department of Corrections (KYDOC) saw a 30% increase in the DOC population of older adults age 55 and over. The timely investigation, therefore, offers a chance to catalog the needs of this vulnerable group and to highlight areas for further intervention and cost containment.

“Department-university partnerships like this one are essential to informing the evidence-base for practice in correctional health,” Prost adds. “Working alongside the men and women in the trenches of these organizations provides researchers great insights and serves to shape our understanding of how to best support not only incarcerated older adults but all stakeholders including Commonwealth taxpayers.”

This study is the first multisystem investigation for this group in the Commonwealth and serves as a critical opportunity to enhance the quality of life for incarcerated older adults and their caregivers and to improve correctional health care outcomes for Kentucky, as well.

Dr. Prost serves as the primary investigator for the study and notes “correctional health care for older adults is of great import to the Commonwealth.” She continues stating “members of the KYDOC administration are facing great challenges in meeting the needs of this group and desire deeply to make meaningful contributions to these older adults and their friends and family.” The health needs of this population extend beyond correctional facilities as many older adults are eligible for parole or will serve out into the community.

Data collection for the study will take place over the summer of 2018 with initial results expected in the fall of 2018. Results, Prost adds, will “shed light on the areas of need and opportunities for translational implementation research for this group.” The study design involved support from numerous members of the KYDOC administration including Tara Harrod, Program Administrator Division of Reentry Services and Cyndi Heddleston in the Office of Research & Legislative Services.

To learn more about the study, contact Dr. Prost at Stephanie.prost@louisville.edu.