Advances in the treatment of HIV have resulted in a large growing population of older adults with HIV. These aging adults face added social, psychological, and physical challenges associated with the aging process. Correlations between depression, loneliness, health, and HIV/AIDS-related stigma have been studied, but there is little evaluation of these associations among HIV-positive adults over the age of 50. Data for these analyses were taken from the Research on Older Adults with HIV (ROAH) study of 914 New York City-based HIV-positive men and women over the age of 50. In total, 39.1% of participants exhibited symptoms of major depression (CES-D ≥ 23). Multivariate modeling successfully explained 42% of the variance in depression which was significantly related to increased HIV-associated stigma, increased loneliness, decreased cognitive functioning, reduced levels of energy, and being younger. These data underscore the need for service providers and researchers to assert more aggressive and innovative efforts to resolve both psychosocial and physical health issues that characterize the graying of the AIDS epidemic in the United States. Data suggest that focusing efforts to reduce HIV-related stigma and loneliness may have lasting effects in reducing major depressive symptoms and improving perceived health.

Instruments identified in this systematic review assess multiple dimensions of spirituality, and the proposed classifications should help clinical researchers interested in investigating the complex relationship between spirituality and health. Findings underscore the scarcity of instruments specifically designed to measure a patient's current spiritual state. Moreover, the relatively limited data available on psychometric properties of these instruments highlight the need for additional research to determine whether they are suitable in identifying the need for spiritual interventions.

Findings highlight the importance of sensory resources for everyday competence and suggest the need for effective vision and hearing rehabilitation to assist older adults in improving or maintaining their functional independence.

Social support becomes an increasingly important resource for people as they age. Research has shown that the needs of older gay men are no different than those of their heterosexual counterparts, nor are older gay men more isolated than older men in general. Research has shown gay men rely on friendship networks more often than on family while heterosexual men rely more on family for social support. Using the most conservative estimates, there are more than two million gay men over the age of 60 in the United States. Results from the first large-scale research project of caregiving in the gay and lesbian communities in NYC challenge the myth of the isolated aging gay man. Two hundred-thirty three gay men, ages 50-87, reported an average of five friends, with whom they were close. Thirty-six percent were partnered, and nearly 90% reported at least fair health and being at least somewhat satisfied with their lives, despite 30% reporting feelings of depression. Results dispel the myth that gay men are not involved with their biological families; when present, biological family members were close to and maintained contact with respondents. Yet relatives were much less likely to be called upon for help. Respondents were most likely to turn to partners, if available, followed by friends.

The findings suggest the need for further longitudinal research to understand how high rates of depressive symptoms are related to comorbidities. Focussed clinical care that strives to prevent the collapse of the immune system must evolve into an effective treatment strategy for multimorbidities, where HIV is but one of many other chronic illnesses. If the management of depression continues to be a low priority, the older person with HIV may experience an avoidable reduction in life expectancy.