What's happening in your community
Aging & HIV/AIDS
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(800) FLA-AIDS (Info, referrals, & counseling)
Text your ZIP code to 477493 for HIV test
sites near you
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In 2005, persons aged 50 and older
accounted for 15% of new HIV/AIDS diagnoses and
24% of persons living with HIV/AIDS.
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention
Know Your Risk
According to the CDC, the number of older Americans with
HIV/AIDS is increasing, due partly to better treatments that
allow longer life for people living with HIV/AIDS, and partly to
more new infections in people over age 50. Here are some
important considerations for aging Americans:
- Testing: Healthcare providers may
not offer you an HIV test because they incorrectly assume
you are not sexually active — or because normal symptoms of
aging may mimic symptoms of HIV infection. This means
you may not know you are HIV-positive until late in the
course of the disease - putting you are at greater risk for
opportunistic infections and for developing AIDS. HIV
testing is important for ALL sexually active adults!
- Treatment: Treating HIV can be
more challenging as you age because you may have other
medical problems that require medications and treatment.
An additional complication is coordinating care by multiple
providers who treat older adults for a variety of different
physical and mental health needs.
- Isolation: Many aging adults
already face isolation due to age, illness, or loss of
family and friends. Having a diagnosis of HIV can increase
that sense of isolation; especially if your family and
friends are unaware of your status.
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What persons aged 50 & older can do
[CDC]
RESOURCES & MORE INFORMATION:
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