Over the past twenty years the number of older people entering the criminal justice system has trebled and these prisoners tend to have poorer health than the general population. Those over the age of 50 are more likely to suffer from physical disabilities, long standing illnesses and have mental health issues.
As a result, NHS Devon’s health promotion team in partnership with Age Concern (now Age UK) created the Age Concern Older Offenders’ Project, with the primary aim of improving the health of older offenders within Devon Prisons.
The joint project was developed to support the pilot of a Health Trainer programme in prisons. The Introduction of the Health Trainer role for older offenders enables them to support their peers with first level health and social care advice, as well as ensuring appropriate steps are taken to improve their health.
Stephanie Parker and Jean Harrison, Health Improvement Advisors for NHS Devon, delivered two Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) courses on Understanding Health Improvement. The accredited course provides an introduction to the basics of health and wellbeing and how to empower offenders to make healthier lifestyle choices. 26 volunteers, 18 of whom were offenders, successfully completed the interactive training.
Since then, numerous health related activities have been introduced in the prison. Offenders have noted that they are beginning to benefit from this more supportive and personalised approach to health, commenting: “I feel more relaxed and am able to sleep without interruption” and “I have lost weight and I am aware of my improved physique”.
Stephanie Parker has since won an NHS Devon Staff Award for her contribution and due to the overall success of the pilot, work is now continuing in Dartmoor prison to help support and develop the offender Health Trainer role.
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