Elderly inmates needing skilled nursing care

[~~RN~~]

I am working on a project to develop a program to care for elderly inmates needing nursing care, help with ADLs and terminally ill inmates. I know that many states now have medical reprieve programs and/or hospice programs within the walls. Could anyone who has a special program/unit/facility for the aging/infirmed population please share their program? I am interested in learning about your criteria for acceptance into the program, staffing, anything that you think might be helpful when starting a program. Are there any prison skilled nursing facilities that are separate from the regular facilities? Thanks for any information you can share!

[Neats, BSN]

There are states that actually have Assisted Living facilites, WA is one of them. Go to the WA DOC web site and find the location of the one near Yakima WA. It is like an Assisted Living and LTC facility in one. Close by is Walla Walla where they are building a WA DOC inpatient hospital. Hope this helps.

[~~RN~~]

Thank you very much! I have looked them up on the web, and I will be calling them for more information.

[Guest371144]

Alabama has a skilled facility - I think it is Holman. Also, one of the facilities in Idaho takes all their long-term care inmates. Hope that helps.

[~~RN~~]

Thanks! It is very helpful. The more I can learn from others' best practice the better!

[edgaroso]

Hello, though I am not a health care professional I am currently working on a documentary film about a hospice program at the Iowa State Penitentiary. Take a look at the trailer by going to prisonterminal.com and if you are interested in further information I can put you into contact with the person who created this program. Clearly it isn't only for the elderly, but rather the terminally ill prisoner. Have a great day!

[katkonk, BSN, RN]

Texas has one that I know of, but I think there may be more than one (It is a huge state- and part of the state has another contractor providing health services.) The one that I am familiar with is the Estelle unit in Huntsville, Tx. It has a 144 bed LTC facility, that houses some women, but mostly men. They provide dialysis in the same building. It is on the TDCJ website, but I am sorry...I do not know their criteria for admission. Good luck with your project. Be sure and post a link or something when you have completed it. It would be interesting to see!

[~~RN~~]

Thank you both edgaroso and katkonk! I will check into both programs. We continue on the project, which now looks like it will be housed in a "Free-world" building previously used as an Assisted Living facility. This requires renovation, so it is a "hurry up and wait"situation :), which is probably good in the long-run, as it gives us time to plan our operation and learn from others. I appreciate all the feedback and suggestions!