Concerns about HIV and aging are something that people with HIV in their 50s, 60s, and 70s may not have imagined they would ever have. Successful HIV treatment can potentially mean a long life, so aging is something many consider these days. In a recent post What is Successful Aging for People Living with HIV?, Roger Pebody summarizes a research study in Ontario. He writes that six themes emerged:
- accepting limitations
- staying positive
- maintaining social support
- taking responsibility
- living a healthy lifestyle
- engaging in meaningful activities
Pebody says the study found that older people with HIV were “more concerned about the psychological and social aspects of getting older” than health and disease that one might expect in a population of people not infected with HIV. This makes sense given that people with HIV may deal with all kinds of health issues.
Aging with HIV is an issue warranting its own awareness day in the US- September 18 is National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day.
“People aged 55 and older accounted for 26% of the estimated 1.2 million people living with diagnosed or undiagnosed HIV infection in the United States in 2013. Each year on September 18, National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day is observed to call attention to the challenges that older Americans face in terms of HIV prevention, testing, care, and treatment.”
Here in Canada, the team at Realize are dedicated to “Fostering positive change for people living with HIV and other episodic disabilities”. The Realize site features a section on HIV and Aging, and one page reads, “It is common for HIV-positive people to live with a greater number of physical, mental or cognitive comorbidities across the lifespan, as compared to their HIV negative counterparts.” Focusing on what one can control, like social connections and emotional wellness make sense, as the Ontario research found.
We are hosting a webinar on September 27 with Realize’s Kate Murzin presenting about HIV and Aging. Kate is Realize’s Health Programs Specialist. She works with communities to build initiatives that will boost health and quality of life for people aging with HIV. We know that many of our member organizations support people who are aging, and we look forward to hearing what Kate has to share about the latest information and resources.
Learn More:
Sign Up for What’s New in HIV and Aging webinar
Questions? Feedback? Get in touch!
Janet Madsen, Capacity Building and Knowledge Translation Coordinator,
[email protected]