Elderly inmates in federal prisons lack personal safety and dignity say Canada’s prison watchdog and the Canadian Human Rights Commission. They interviewed 250 inmates aged 50 and older and prepared a report concluding change is needed.

Ombudsman ‘shocked,’ inmates bullied

“We’re just shocked to see how many were struggling as they were getting older,” said Ivan Zinger, Canada’s correctional investigator. “They have difficulty, for example, getting medical mattresses or pillows, orthopedic shoes. They’re getting bullied and intimidated by younger offenders and sometimes a younger offender may try to get their canteen, their food, their medication.

“Many of them live in fear and seek out protective custody or even solitary confinement for their own safety.”

Prison facilities may not be adapted for disabled or sick, elderly inmates.

Some elderly offenders ‘unnecessarily warehoused’

About 25 per cent of the inmates in federal prisons are over the age of 50 and the proportion is expected to grow. Some suffer from dementia and don’t understand where they are or why they are there.

In some cases, their cases have not been reviewed and they have stayed past the time when they could have been eligible for parole. Zinger said they are being “unnecessarily \warehoused.”

Elderly may cost 4 times more

It costs $116,000 to house someone in a federal prison and up to two to four times more for an elderly inmate. Zinger said the money could be much better spent housing them in other facilities such as hospices, long-term care home or specially adapted halfway houses.