Cognitive training for older prisoners: a qualitative analysis of prisoners' and staff members' perceptions.

Correctional institutions are challenged by increasing numbers of older prisoners. Existing literature highlights the vulnerability of this group that is reflected by various somatic and mental health issues including cognitive dysfunctions. Although cognitive training studies in various target groups of older people have been conducted, there is lack of data regarding cognitive training in older prisoners. A structured cognitive group training program ("NEUROvitalis Prison") with 12 weekly sessions was offered to male prisoners in Germany. Post intervention an exploratory qualitative study was conducted. Prisoners ( Both the prisoners and the staff perceived the cognitive training as very positive and stimulating. Moreover, the importance of the training was pronounced in terms of an increase in self-esteem and understanding of cognition and aging in the prisoners. Our data indicate that cognitive training may be a feasible and valuable intervention for older prisoners that will be appreciated by both inmates and staff. The qualitative data provide substantial insight into the experiences with the applied cognitive training program. Moreover, valuable modifications for future conduct can be derived.

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Copyright © 2024 Verhülsdonk, Folkerts, Hasenberg, Bohn, Christl, Kalbe and Krieger.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

A-KF and EK are authors of the cognitive intervention series NEUROvitalis (ProLog, Cologne), but receive no corresponding honoraria. EK has received honoraria from ProLog Wissen GmbH, Cologne, Germany; Kyowa Kirin Services LTD, London, United Kingdom; AbbVie Inc., as well as from the Movement Disorders Society; and has received grants from German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF); German Parkinson Society; German Alzheimer’s Society; Federal Joint Committee (G-BA); and STADAPHARM GmbH. A-KF has received honoraria from Springer Medizin Verlag GmbH, Heidelberg, Germany; Springer-Verlag GmbH, Berlin; ProLog Wissen GmbH, Cologne, Germany; LOGOMANIA Fendt and Sax GbR, Munich, Germany; Bundesverband Klinische Linguistik e.V., Coburg, Germany; Hochschule Fresenius, Düsseldorf, Germany; as well as Seminar- und Fortbildungszentrum Rheine, Germany; and has received grants from the German Parkinson Society; the German Parkinson Foundation, the German Alzheimer’s Society; Federal Joint Committee (G-BA); and STADAPHARM GmbH. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.