Aging with HIV/AIDS
By the end of the decade, 70% of people living with HIV/AIDS will be older than 50. To bring attention to the impact of HIV/AIDS on the older adult population, ASA and Gilead have launched an initiative to help professionals in aging to better support and engage with this demographic.
Join Gilead Sciences and the American Society on Aging for a series of conversations about caring for older adults living with HIV. This podcast series covers the opportunities to improve care for those who are aging with HIV—from educating healthcare professionals to ensuring social workers have the resources they need—and examines the experiences of overlooked HIV communities.
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Episode 1: Challenges and Approaches to HIV Care for Older Adults
Caring for older adults—specifically those older than age 50—who are living with HIV calls for increasing access to services and care coordination. HealthHIV’s Pozitively Aging program works to improve the quality of life for those aging with HIV. Scott Bertani, Director of Public Policy at HealthHIV, sits down with Beyond Generations to discuss his article in the Gilead-sponsored Generations Today on how Pozitively Aging addresses obstacles and solutions to HIV care.
Episode 2: The Experiences of Black Men Aging with HIV/AIDS
People living with HIV have historically faced social isolation and stigma from society, however, Black men in particular have faced unique challenges while aging with HIV. Joe Robinson from THRIVE SS sits down with special guest host Raymond A. Jetson from Aging While Black to discuss his role as lead program manager of The Silver Lining Project, a program that aims to create a safe space where older Black men living with HIV can share, discuss and advocate for issues impacting their community.
Episode 3: How Hispanic/Latinx Communities Aging with HIV/AIDS Have Been Overlooked
More than one in every five older adults living with HIV is Hispanic/Latinx. This population living with HIV is a rapidly expanding demographic, and yet they face unique hurdles in accessing healthcare and treatment. Often they have been related to language barriers, but such hurdles also are compounded by feelings of depression and social isolation. Luis Nava Molero from the Latino Commission on AIDS sits down with National Skills Coalition CEO Robert Espinoza to discuss the vulnerabilities of Hispanic/Latinx communities aging with HIV and how they have been overlooked time and again.
Episode 4: How The Denver Principles Are Relevant for Older Adults Living with HIV/AIDS
In 1983, activists developed a manifesto referred to as The Denver Principles, which asserts the rights and responsibilities of people living with HIV, including the right to make meaningful decisions, and declares that they are not passive subjects, but protagonists who are fully involved in their response to AIDS. In this episode, Linda H. Scruggs from Ribbon, a nonprofit organization, and Tez Anderson, President of Let’s Kick Ass—AIDS Survivor Syndrome, sit down with ASA Equity Strategy Director Patrice Dickerson to discuss why The Denver Principles continue to be relevant today, particularly for people aging with HIV.
Episode 5: Educating Healthcare Workers on Caring for People Living and Aging with HIV/AIDS
Many adults who are aging with HIV have experienced immense loss, stigma and discrimination—even within the healthcare system. Unfortunately, the care and treatment they receive often comes from specialists who are unfamiliar with HIV and the unique challenges it poses to older adults. Carole Treston and Sheila Tumilty from the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care address the importance of educating and equipping healthcare workers with the right information and resources to care for people living and aging with HIV.
Episode 6: Giving Social Workers What They Need to Serve Older Adults Living with HIV/AIDS
Social workers are in a unique position because they interact with the broader social determinants of health—such as mental health, housing, employment, etc.—and see firsthand how they impact people living and aging with HIV. Kerry Littlewood from AAJ Research & Evaluation, Inc., and Russell "Rusty" Bennett from the Center for Social Innovation and Health Equity Research, and Collaborative Solutions, Inc., sit down with ASA President & CEO Leanne Clark-Shirley for this episode to discuss what support social workers need to serve older adults living with HIV.
By Scott D. Bertani
By Joe Robinson and Darryl (D.C.) Branch
By Carole Treston, Jeffrey Kwong, Sheila Tumilty and David E. Vance
By Russell L. Bennett, K. Littlewood and C. Spadola
By Vanessa Johnson, Joie Otting, John Guidry, Shauna Cooper and Linda H. Scruggs
By Terri L. Wilder, MJ Okma and Emma Bessire
World AIDS Day Social Media Toolkit
As we approach World AIDS Day on Dec. 1, it’s essential to bring awareness to the growing population of older adults living with HIV/AIDS. ASA has created a toolkit with language and graphics you can use to share information on aging with HIV/AIDS on social media.
You can use this World AIDS Day Social Media Toolkit to help spread awareness of the unique experiences of older adults living with HIV/AIDS.
Thank you to Gilead Sciences for sponsoring this important work!
Gilead Sciences' HIV Age Positively aims to support programs focused on improving the quality of life and health for those who are aging. HIV Age Positively has awarded more than $17.6 million in grants to support 30 organizations—from healthcare organizations to advocacy groups working to address the interrelated challenges within the healthcare system and the general HIV community— addressing stigma, loneliness and better coordination of care.