HIV, AIDS, and Older Adults

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Older people often mistake HIV/AIDS symptoms for the aches and pains of normal aging, so they are less likely than younger people to get tested for HIV/AIDS. They may be embarrassed, ashamed, and fearful of being tested for HIV/AIDS, a disease connected with having sex and injecting drugs. People age 50 and over may have had the virus for years before being tested. By the time they are diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, the virus may be in its most advanced stages.

Older people diagnosed with HIV/AIDS do not live as long as younger people who have the virus. It is important to get tested early. The earlier you begin medical treatment, the better your chances for living longer.

Many older people who have HIV/AIDS live in isolation because they are afraid to tell family and friends about their illness. They may have more severe depression than younger people. Older people are less likely to join support groups. Older people with HIV/AIDS need help coping both emotionally and physically with the disease. As the infection progresses, they will need help getting around and caring for themselves. Older people with AIDS need support and understanding from their doctors, family, friends, and community.

HIV/AIDS affects older people in yet another way. Many younger people with HIV/AIDS turn to their parents and grandparents for financial support and nursing care. Many older people have cared for their own children with HIV/AIDS and then for their orphaned and sometimes HIV-infected grandchildren. Taking care of others can be mentally, physically, and financially draining. This is particularly true for older caregivers. Taking care of someone with HIV/AIDS can be very hard and stressful.

HIV/AIDS, People of Color, and Women

Of all the people age 50 and over with AIDS, more than half (52%) are black and Hispanic. Of all men age 50 and over with AIDS, 49% are black and Hispanic. Of all women age 50 and over with AIDS, 70% are black and Hispanic. The number of HIV/AIDS cases continues to rise in communities of color. Educators, healthcare workers, and community leaders need to inform and warn people about HIV -- the dangers of having sex without a condom, the dangers of injecting drugs and using infected needles, and the importance of getting tested.

The number of older women with HIV/AIDS, regardless of race, is also on the rise. Over a recent five-year period, the number of new AIDS cases in women age 50 and older increased by 40%. Two-thirds of the women got the virus because they had sex with infected partners. Nearly one-third of the women got HIV because they shared needles.

There may be a connection between HIV/AIDS and women in menopause. Women who are no longer worried about getting pregnant may be less likely to use a condom and practice safe sex. Some menopausal women have vaginal dryness and thinning. This means they are more likely to have small tears and abrasions during sex. This can put women at greater risk for HIV. Because women may live longer than men and because of the rising rate of divorce, there are a large number of widowed, divorced, or separated women starting to date. Because many of these women do not understand how HIV/AIDS is spread, they may be at risk.

Treatment and Prevention

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There is no cure for HIV/AIDS. Once you are infected, there are a number of medical treatments available to help keep the HIV virus in check and to help guard against AIDS. If there's any chance you might be infected, get tested. Early medical treatment is important, especially for middle-aged and older people. Your doctor or medical provider can give you information about the kinds of treatments available. Doctors and medical providers should talk to patients about the risk of HIV/AIDS, get the patient's sex and drug histories, and encourage HIV testing if there is any chance that the patient has been infected.

Remember, HIV/AIDS is all about behaviors. By practicing all the following behaviors, you can greatly reduce your risk of getting HIV/AIDS:

• If you are having sex, make sure your partner is HIV negative.

• Use male or female condoms (latex or polyurethane) during sex.

• Do not share needles or any other drug-use paraphernalia.

• If you or your partner had a blood transfusion between 1978 and 1985, or an operation or blood transfusion in a developing country at any time, get tested.

Resources

Health agencies in most cities offer HIV testing. The following national organizations have information about HIV/AIDS:

AARP
 601 E Street, NW
Washington, DC 20049
202-434-2260
http://www.aarp.org/griefandloss 

AARP has information on HIV/AIDS and its impact on mid-life and older adults. Ask about "It Can Happen to Me," a 28-minute videotape and discussion guide (available for loan or sale) for older adults or healthcare professionals.

Center for AIDS Prevention Studies at The University of California, San Francisco
74 New Montgomery Street Suite 600
San Francisco, CA 94105
415-597-9100
http://www.caps.ucsf.edu 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National AIDS Hotline
1-800-342-AIDS
1-800-344-7432 for Spanish
1-800-243-7889 (TTY)
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/hivinfo/nah.htm 
hiv@ashastd.org 

The hotline operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It offers general information and referrals to resources in your area.

CDC National Prevention Information Network
PO Box 6003
Rockville, MD 20849
1-800-458-5231
1-800-243-7012 (TTY)
info@cdc.npin.org 

This clearinghouse offers free government publications and information.

National Association on HIV Over Fifty
c/o Midwest AIDS Training and Education Center
808 S. Wood Street, MSC 779
Chicago, IL 60612
312-996-1373
www.hivoverfifty.org 

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Office of Communications Building 31, Room 7A32
Bethesda, MD 220892
http://www.niaid.nih.gov 

Part of the National Institutes of Health, the NIAID provides information about AIDS research and clinical trials.

Senior Action in a Gay Environment (SAGE)
305 7th Avenue, 16th Floor New York, NY 10001
212-741-2247
http://www.sageusa.org 

SAGE provides HIV/AIDS information and referrals for people age 50 and over.

Social Security Administration
Call your local office or:
1-800-SSA-1213

Social Security has disability benefit programs that provide financial assistance to eligible AIDS patients.

For more information on health and aging, contact:
National Institute on Aging
P.O. Box 8057 Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8057
800-222-2225
800-222-4225 (TTY)
http://www.nih.gov/nia 
http://www.aoa.dhhs.gov/aoa/pages/agepages/aids.html 

National Institute on Aging U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Public Health Service National Institutes of Health 1999

"The National Institute on Aging of The National Institutes of Health. National Institute on Aging Age Page: HIV, AIDS, and Older Adults. 1994. Last updated March 11, 1999. (Online) http://www.aoa.dhhs.gov/aoa/pages/agepages/aids.html"

Last reviewed: 10/05

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