Under New Plan, Iowa May Transfer Older, Sick Inmates to Nursing Homes
Elderly and sick inmates could be transferred from Iowa prisons to nursing homes under a state plan.
The Iowa Board of Corrections was told recently that there are about 230 inmates in state prisons who are older, mentally ill, retarded or who have long-term illnesses.
John Goeldner, a corrections legislative specialist, said the plan to place selected inmates in nursing homes was being prepared at the request of the Iowa Legislature. Its goal is to ease prison overcrowding and relieve corrections staffers of caring for inmates who need special medical assistance, officials said.
State Corrections director Sally Chandler Halford said the inmates would be carefully screened.
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