Belgium's prison population is ageing rapidly, with the number of inmates aged 60 or over rising nearly 31 percent since 2019 — from 550 to 719 — according to a new report by the Central Supervisory Council for Prisons (the independent body overseeing Belgian detention conditions). The council found that facilities remain ill-equipped for older detainees, citing heavy doors, long walking distances, and shared dormitories at institutions such as Merksplas and Saint-Hubert, which prevent some prisoners from attending medical appointments or accessing basic services. The report calls for individual cells, integrated geriatric care models, and clearer frameworks around end-of-life care, warning that without policy change, ageing inmates face declining health, social isolation, and serious difficulties securing housing or care home places upon release.