Pensioner prisoners: How can prisons cope with ageing inmates?

During an exclusive visit to the prison, the BBC’s Radio Scotland Breakfast programme was told the special dementia area was set up in conjunction with Meeting Centres Scotland, external – a charity which supports people living with dementia.

The Basement, named by the inmates, is an area that is a bit more relaxed than the main prison with home comforts such as couches. Carers who work in the prison are also on hand.

Kerry McMenemy, a first line manager with the Scottish Prison Service (SPS), said that with the rising numbers of older inmates coming in, the managers noticed that there was a gap in what was being offered.

“We take the guys down there and try to make it more like care home vibes,” she said.

“We’ll do activities with them down there and have games and music. We also get people that come in and do things with them.

“A lot of the older population go into themselves and don’t come out of their cells much so we’re trying to make a safe space for them to relax.”

She said prisoners were often the first to notice symptoms of dementia in fellow inmates. Other prisoners have already been diagnosed before they go into prison.

“A lot of them are very confused,” McMenemy said. “We just try to make it as normal for them as we can and we’re hoping that the meeting centre we’ve built will help with that.

“It’s about getting them out and not staying in their cells all the time as that could make it worse.”