Older Tasmanian prisoners have access to numerous support programs depending on their individual needs, a Department of Justice spokesperson has confirmed.
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This comes after a new report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the Health and ageing of Australia's prisoners 2018, found older prisoners with complex health care needs had a growing presence in Australia's prisons.
Since 2009, the population of older prisoners, being prisoners aged 45 and older, grew by 79 per cent whereas the number of young prisoners aged 18 - 44 increased by 40 per cent.
The spokesperson said the Tasmanian Prison Service, in conjunction with the Correctional Primary Health Service, provided support and assistance to aged prisoners and prisoners with a disability.
"Aged prisoners are accommodated in a facility as determined by their security rating and in accommodation that is suitable to, and in consideration of, any special needs relating to disability," the spokesperson said.
"The TPS has a 40 bed facility within the Ron Barwick Prison which is specifically designed to accommodate elderly and infirm prisoners, as well as those living with a disability.
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"A Care Management Group, with representatives from the TPS and CPHS, meets regularly to review and determine the level of support, activities and the care required for prisoners accommodated within the facility to ensure their good health and wellbeing.
"The group also provides assistance to prisoners who may require end-of-life care planning and support."
The spokesperson said prisoners who required general basic assistance with everyday living, such as getting ready on time for activities, were provided support by prisoner carers or Correctional Officers.
"For prisoners who require a high level of care, such as with showering and/or toileting, this is undertaken by trained nurses or paid carers. This is managed by CPHS," the spokesperson said.
"In some instances, prisoners are also afforded access to external disability services and support where it is deemed necessary for them to have specialised assistance for tasks associated with day-to-day routines, and where the TPS or CPHS cannot directly provide those supports or it is determined that these supports are to be provided via NDIS funding packages."
The AIHW report also found 63 per cent of prisoners were not made any appointments or referrals for physical or mental health check-ups upon release.
This prompted criticism from Tasmanian Prisoners Legal Service chairman Greg Barns who said it was the government's responsibility to ensure prisoners were given stable accommodation and were plugged into health systems, at a minimum, on release.
READ MORE: Tasmania failing prisoners on release: Barns
The spokesperson said the TPS had trained Correctional Officers and Planning and Reintegration Officers who provided case management and release planning for prisoners.
"Release planning includes providing assistance to prisoners who require housing upon release," the spokesperson said.
"The Salvation Army 'Beyond the Wire' specialist housing reintegration program has been able to house 22 people through the Prisoner Rapid Rehousing Program and has accommodated a further 35 people in private accommodation on their release from custody between the inception of the service in March 2018 and March 2020."