Researchers
Dr Amanuel Kidane Hagos, Medicine & Health, UNSW
Dr Jane Hwang, Medicine & Health, UNSW
Associate Professor Adrienne Withall, Science, UNSW
Professor Tony Butler, Medicine & Health, UNSW
Professor Peter Schofield, University of Newcastle
Dr Phillip Snoyman, Corrective Services NSW
Mr John Killick
Funding
This project was part of the Australian Human Rights Institute’s 2025 seed funding round, receiving $6,250.
Summary
Older incarcerated adults (age 50 years and above) constitute between 20-30% of the prison population in Australia and internationally. The proportion of older incarcerated adults with dementia is expected to be higher than the rate of dementia among older adults in the general population. Older adults with dementia leaving prison experience a double burden of human rights issues, due to both their criminal history and medical condition. A criminal history renders them vulnerable to chronic victimisation, loss of family and community ties, homelessness, social exclusion, medical neglect, and stigma. Older adults with dementia leaving prison are also victims of physical restraint, discrimination and different forms of elder abuse. Challenges of navigating the complex health and social system further strain their ability to live well and independently in the community.
This research project will respond to the double burden of human rights concerns among older adults with dementia leaving prison. The human rights-based research will co-design a dementia care and support pathway for people with dementia leaving prison later in their lives. The care and support pathway will ensure that ex-prisoners are involved in the decision-making of their care and that care providers are educated to understand the unique challenges faced by older ex-prisoners with dementia. It will provide further support to existing dementia advocates and prison leavers’ support networks who champion the right of ex-prisoners to access dementia care and support services.
Informed by older adults with lived experience of incarceration, members of community-based organisations and healthcare professionals, this novel project will pave the way to human rights-based dementia care and support pathway for older adults leaving prison in Australia. The Australian Human Rights Institute will fund the first phase of the study, a qualitative study on barrier analysis to dementia care and support for older adults leaving prison.