Communities of Care: Transforming Aging and Dying in Prison

Prison Yoga Project Podcast

Aging and dying in prison is a deeply underexplored issue, yet it's one that affects a growing number of incarcerated individuals. With over 186,000 people aged 55 or older currently behind bars, the U.S. prison system is struggling to meet the complex health needs of this population. By 2030, one-third of incarcerated people will be considered geriatric. In this thought-provoking episode, we dive into this important topic with two pioneers in the field, Lisa Deal and Laura Musselman of the Humane Prison Hospice Project.

Lisa and Laura share their groundbreaking work in California prisons, where they lead innovative peer caregiving programs that train incarcerated individuals to provide compassionate end-of-life care to their peers. With four thriving programs and a fifth launching soon, their work is transforming the prison environment, fostering healing and human connection in places too often defined by isolation.

Listeners will hear about:

• The accelerated aging and chronic health challenges faced by incarcerated individuals.
• A unique 80-hour peer caregiving training that addresses trauma, cultural competency, and nursing skills.
• The pressing need for compassionate release and elder parole, and efforts to create transitional housing for reentry.

Tune in to learn how Lisa and Laura are bringing dignity and humanity to some of the most vulnerable people in our prison system, and how their work is changing public perceptions of aging, dying, and caregiving in prisons.

About Our Guests:

• Lisa Deal is a dedicated healthcare professional with over 30 years of experience in nursing, public health, and end-of-life care. After starting her career as a community health nurse for AIDS patients, she went on to earn master’s degrees in public health and nursing and a doctorate in public health from Harvard University. Lisa has served in leadership roles at Mission Hospice & Home Care and is now the Executive Director of the Humane Prison Hospice Project, where she combines her expertise and compassion to provide dignified end-of-life care for incarcerated individuals.
• Laura Musselman transitioned from her role as a college philosophy instructor to pursue end-of-life care after losing both of her parents. She trained as an end-of-life doula with the International End-of-Life Doula Association (INELDA) and began volunteering at Hinds Hospice in Fresno, California. Laura now serves with the Humane Prison Hospice Project, where she combines her background in ethics and her passion for accessible, compassionate end-of-life care to support incarcerated individuals. She also trains other volunteers, ensuring that those dying in prison receive the dignity and support they deserve.

Links:

https://humaneprisonhospiceproject.org/

https://humaneprisonhospiceproject.org/donate/

www.prisonyoga.org