Senior Inmates Get Help To Reintegrate Into Society

Rehab scheme for those aged 60 and above who stay in Assisted Living Correctional Unit

- Claudia Tan

For seniors who have been incarcerated, reintegrating into society after their release can be a daunting task. Some are estranged from their families, while others struggle to find accommodation or jobs.

For John (not his real name), 75, who is currently serving a sentence of two years and six months, a challenge is finding a meaningful way to spend his free time after he returns to society.

He is among a number of prisoners enrolled in the Singapore Prison Service's (SPS) Throughcare Management Service for Elderly Offenders (TMSEO), a rehabilitation programme started in 2023 for seniors with mobility issues.

It was launched in partnership with Care Community Services Society (CCSS), a social service organisation that provides programmes for individuals in need.

As at April, 80 inmates have attended the programme.

Senior inmates aged 60 and above who reside in the Assisted Living Correctional Unit (ALCU) qualify for the programme.

The ALCU, launched in 2016, comprises cells fitted with amenities such as plastic beds, sitting toilets and grab bars, reserved for inmates with mobility issues.