1. REENTRY FOR THE OLDER EX-OFFENDER
Ohio Ex-Offender Reentry Coalition Quarterly Meeting
May 15, 2013
Cincinnati, Ohio

2. Aging in Ohio is Everyone’s Business

3. Source:
Takashi Yamashita, MA, ABD
Scripps Gerontology Center, 2011

4. Source:
Takashi Yamashita, MA, ABD
Scripps Gerontology Center, 2011

5. Source:
Takashi Yamashita, MA, ABD
Scripps Gerontology Center, 2011

6. 2000 Population Pyramid of Ohio

7. 2030 Population Pyramid of Ohio

8. Older Prisoners – Nation
Most rapidly growing group in U.S. prisons
250,000+ Aging Prisoners (2010)
: 65+ prisoners rate grew times rate of overall prisoners
Almost 1 in 10 serving life sentences;
11% serving 20+ years

9. Older Offenders - Ohio
Roughly 14.6% (7,371) of ODRC’s inmates are age 50+.
ODRC has more than 366 offenders over age 70, with two Hocking Correction Facility inmates over age 90.
2/3 of older offenders return to their home counties upon reentry.

10. Accelerated Aging
In prison, 50 is commonly considered old. The average 50-year-old prisoner compares to the average 60-year-old in the free community.
Disease rates among low income
Unhealthily lifestyles
Substandard medical care
Exposure medical care
Exposure to violence
Stress and anxiety

11. Health Issues Substance Abuse Chronic medical conditions: HIV/AIDS
Diabetes
Hepatitis C
Mental health problems
Cognitive impairments
Hearing loss
Vision changes
Mobility/balance
Multiple chronic diseases
Incontinence
Lack age appropriate resources when transitioning back into the community

12. Environmental Issues Steps Narrow doorways Temperature Nutrition/Food
Waiting in lines
No grab bars
Long walks
Upper bunks
Victimization
Jobs

13. New Territory (for the correctional system & the aging network)
While health issues are a challenge, today’s elders are healthier and more active than previous generations.
They are living longer and potentially have decades of productivity ahead of them.
This also means they are more capable of reoffending than previous generations.

14. Older offenders fall into two service categories:
Two Categories
Older offenders fall into two service categories:
Those needing long-term care services & supports:
Access to institutional care, assisted living and home- and community-based services.
Those needing self-sufficiency & support services:
Employment services, housing, nutrition, transportation, Golden Buckeye Card, and health care, including training and support to help them manage chronic conditions.

15. Limited Standardized Programs and/or Protocols
Educating aging network professionals about the prevalence of older offenders reentering their communities and their special needs, barriers and circumstances.
Adequate identification
Criminal background exclusions
Employment readiness
Health care
Housing
Community supervision

16. Limited Standardized Programs and/or Protocols (continued)
Educating offenders in the reentry process about the services available from Ohio’s aging network.
Area agencies on aging
Local councils on aging
Senior centers
Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP)

17. Limited Standardized Programs and/or Protocols (continued)
Educating corrections and reentry professionals on the needs and circumstances of older adults and the services available to older offenders upon reentry.
Physiological changes & accommodations
Generational differences
Communication preferences

18. Limited Standardized Programs and/or Protocols (continued)
In addition, there is a limited availability of training to assist offenders manage their chronic health conditions prior to and after their reentry to the community.

19. Strategic Performance Goal #1
Achieve a standardized process to ensure older adults exiting the corrections system are aware of aging network programs, services and benefits that are available to them and that aging network professionals are prepared to serve them.

20. Strategic Performance Goal #2
Achieve a standardized process to ensure that correctional and reentry professionals receive training and access to resources on special needs and circumstances of older adults and the programs, services and benefits that are available to older offenders upon reentry.
Generational Diversity & Sensitivity Training, UC College of Nursing (

21. Strategic Performance Goal #3
Provide access to programs and training that assist offenders in the reentry process self-manage chronic health conditions.
In fall 2012, ODRC expanded its CDSMP/ Healthy U program beyond southeast Ohio to institutions in Mansfield, London, Orient, Columbus, Marysville and Chillicothe.

22. Contact Information
Marc Molea
Chief, Strategic Partnerships
Ohio Department of Aging
(614)