Supporting older prisoners: informing options for care and support
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Peer Support to Older Prisoners: in search of effective, implementable and sustainable solutions to care of older prisoners.
IRAS ID
150106
Contact name
Tine Van Bortel
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Foundation NHS Trust and University of Cambridge - Joint sponsorship
Research summary
The overall aim of the study is to support the implementation of effective and sustainable modes of providing social care to older people with frailty and/or long term conditions in prison.
Specific objectives of this study and development work are to:
(1) undertake systematic and narrative literature reviews covering particular support models for older prisoners such as peer support/‘buddying’;
(2) summarise review findings and model the different modes of support;
(3) summarise the evidence on effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the different modes of support/caring for older prisoners;
(4) undertake a review of the policy and operating context for social care in the East of England, through documentation review and stakeholder interviews.
(5) understand current policy and practice context governing and influencing possible implementation of a new care intervention into HMPS.
(6) investigate attitudes to and feasibility of implementing 'peer support' approaches to meeting health and social care needs of older prisoners while adhering to security and equity concerns and the efficient use of scarce resources.
(7) organise, or where they already exist, attend an 'over 50's forum' in each of the participating prisons to present 'lay summary' of review findings;
(8) invite and recruit older prisoners to take part in a semi-structured interview to explore care needs and attitudes to how best meet these needs within a prison setting;
(9) inform development (if deemed by stakeholders as desirable) of a future implementation pilot modelled on an evidence-based scheme, for which grant funding will be sought.REC name
East of England - Essex Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/EE/1081
Date of REC Opinion
15 Sep 2014
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion