Progress, Potential, and Possibilities Podcast / Show Care For The Aging And Cognitively Impaired, Behind Bars, With Empathy & Dignity - The Gold Coats
Longer term correctional facilities, of which we have around 2,000 in the U.S., are not geared to accommodate the needs of a growing aging population. Within this aging population, we see the natural slowdown of physical mobility and cognitive processes, aging prisoners are prone to predation and humiliation, and major CNS degenerative disorders, such as early onset dementia, including Alzheimer’s Disease, is difficult to detect in this population, which is often accompanied with other mental illnesses and maladaptive social behaviors. The Gold Coat program (https://thegoldcoats.com/), based at the California Men’s Colony State Prison in San Luis Obispo, consists of healthy inmates specially trained to care for those with dementia and other cognitive impairments, and the experiences of these Gold Coat workers (designated for the gold smocks they wear) reveal not just a fascinating model of care and working rehabilitative program, but also a true model of reform that can provide skills for meaningful employment while caring for those who cannot help themselves. Aileen Hongo is a geriatric social worker and received her masters degrees in Gerontology and Social Work from the University of Southern California. She came across the Gold Coats program through her studies. Aileen continues to research the plight of the escalating aging prison population in correctional facilities unsuitable to accommodate the natural decline of physical mobility and cognitive processes of older adults. She currently works as a life skills instructor in the county jails. Barry Hughes is originally from Los Angeles, CA. Barry served as a Gold Coat for 5 years and hospice caregiver from 2004 to until released from prison in 2012. He is currently working as a Peer Specialist in Grief Support for the Department of Mental Health at the Veterans Administration. Aileen and Barry are both authors of a book: The Gold Coats - An Exceptional Standard of Care: A Collaborative Guide to Caring for the Cognitively Impaired Behind Bars (https://www.amazon.com/Gold-Coats-Exceptional-Collaborative-Cognitively/dp/1530609011).