Inmate Caregiver Training for Aging in Prisons
Trial Summary
What is the purpose of this trial?
The demographics of the U.S. prison population are shifting at a dramatic rate requiring new approaches to prison healthcare. Current estimates suggest that there are 2.3 million incarcerated persons in the U.S. Similar to the free world, the aging of the Baby Boom generation is occurring in prisons. Notably, inmates 50 and older constitute over 20% of prisoners in state or federal facilities. From 1996-2016, there was an 280% growth in the number of state and federal prisoners age 55 or older, which is in sharp contrast to younger inmates that grew by only 3% during this time period. A surge in older adult offenders in the U.S. has not occurred but rather statutes now impose stiffer sentences, resulting in longer periods of incarceration, such as life without parole or 20+ years. At the same time, early release policies remain restrictive. As a result, sentenced offenders are living through middle and older adulthood within the confines of prisons.
Research Team
Barbara Walkosz, PhD
Principal Investigator
Klein Buendel, Inc.
Eligibility Criteria
This trial is for adult inmates who are already providing geriatric or end-of-life care in participating state prisons, as well as prison staff involved with inmate caregiving. Participants must be over 18, speak and understand English, and able to give consent.Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Timeline
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Development and Training
Development of a full-scale media-rich interactive computer-based learning system Inmates Care, consisting of six modules for inmate caregiving training.
Usability Testing
Conduct in-person usability testing of the Inmates Care program in two rounds to evaluate logistics, impressions, and user interface.
Scale-up Testing
Test scale-up of the Inmates Care program in state prisons to evaluate knowledge acquisition outcomes and usage patterns.
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for knowledge retention and program effectiveness after training.
Treatment Details
Interventions
- Inmates Care
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
Klein Buendel, Inc.
Lead Sponsor
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Collaborator
Penn State University
Collaborator