Staff at York County Prison recently completed a training session, becoming Dementia Friends.
As Pennsylvania’s prison population continues to age, correctional facilities are facing new and complex challenges, including a growing number of incarcerated individuals living with dementia. In response, Dementia Friendly Pennsylvania recently partnered with York County Prison to bring Dementia Friends education directly into the corrections environment, creating what leaders hope will become a model for facilities across the Commonwealth.
The initiative began in December 2025 when York County Prison Training Director Jamie Ronk contacted Dementia Friendly Pennsylvania seeking dementia education tailored specifically for correctional staff. “Gradually with the increase in elderly detainees we are starting to see a rise in dementia with our population,” Ronk said.
The request reflects a broader trend statewide and nationally. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, nearly 11,000 incarcerated individuals in Pennsylvania are over the age of 50, accounting for approximately 27% of the prison population. Research also shows that incarcerated individuals often experience accelerated aging, making dementia-related symptoms more common at younger ages.
Without training, behaviors associated with cognitive decline may be misinterpreted as noncompliance or aggression. Dementia-friendly education helps staff recognize these behaviors as symptoms of cognitive impairment, and learn new strategies to respond effectively, with the goal of reducing unnecessary confrontations while improving safety and care.
York County Prison had already established annual health-focused training topics for staff, including autism awareness training in 2025. For 2026, leadership identified dementia education as its next priority. Using a process similar to curriculum development completed previously for Meals on Wheels of Greater Pittsburgh, the Dementia Friendly Pennsylvania team collaborated with prison leadership and consulted with Dementia Friendly Ohio about its program to create a corrections-specific Dementia Friends Information session.
Together with Deputy Warden Valarie Conway and Ronk, the team customized the training to reflect the realities of working with incarcerated individuals living with dementia. On May 11, Dementia Friendly Pennsylvania team members Deanna Page, MS, LPC and Stacie Bonenberger, MOT, OTR/L led the first training for prison staff. Fourteen employees attended, and seven staff members were trained as Dementia Friends Champions to support future education efforts.
Participants worked through real-world correctional scenarios, including individuals attempting to leave the facility to “find family,” confusion about medication schedules, and agitation during admissions processing. Staff explore communication, de-escalation, safety, and empathy-focused approaches to care.
“The Dementia Friends curriculum can be adapted to respond to the unique needs of different sectors, communities, and populations,” said Bonenberger. “Our team works closely with each group requesting content to ensure the material is relevant, practical, and sensitive to their specific environment and experiences. We recognize that not every strategy is possible in every environment; however, by providing additional tools and approaches, we create greater opportunities for individuals and organizations to respond with empathy, understanding, and improved support for people living with dementia.”
Participants will complete a two-part evaluation process measuring knowledge gained and behavioral change. Results from the York County Prison initiative will be presented this fall at the Pennsylvania Wardens Conference, where leaders hope the pilot effort will inspire expansion to prisons and jails throughout Pennsylvania.
