HIV After Age 55

Perception of epidemic's related anxiety in the General French Population: a cross-sectional study in the Rhône-Alpes region

“…The earliest education and prevention campaigns were mainly directed at men who have sex with men and at young people. This approach may have contributed to an increase in the incidence of AIDS among heterosexuals and higher age categories [15][16][17][18][19].…”

Perspectives of Clinicians and Social Services Personnel on Needs of Older Adults with HIV Who Access Healthcare at a Major Metropolitan

“…Research demonstrates that clinicians (e.g., nurses, nurse practitioners, physicians) fail to recognize the presence of HIV in older adults [4,5,12]; the same may be said for social services personnel, including social workers [12]. Subsequently, clinicians and social services personnel do not tend to suggest testing for HIV [5,9,13,14] possibly resulting in older adults being diagnosed with HIV later than their younger counterparts [4]. This is unfortunate, given research indicating that older adults comprise the fastest-growing population of individuals with HIV infection [3,4,6,15] and that approximately 10% of individuals with AIDS in the United States are 50 years old and over [4,5].…”

Impact of Socio-Medical Factors on the Prevention and Treatment of HIV/AIDS Among Specific Subpopulations

“…The increases in incidence and prevalence of HIV diagnoses within this population are particularly important in lieu of the phenomenon of age transition 6 (UN, 2007). This factor is heightened by the efficacy of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) rendering HIV/AIDS a chronic disease with declining mortality and fewer AIDS-related opportunistic infections (Manfredi, 2002;Stark, 2006). Consequently, the net effect is a growing, vulnerable, graying HIV-positive population.…”

“…Consequently, the net effect is a growing, vulnerable, graying HIV-positive population. Older adults experience specific health challenges (Siegel et al, 1999), HAART treatment issues (Grabar et al, 2006;Nogueras et al, 2006;Silverburg et al, 2007), and social stigma associated with the infection (Emlet, 2006;Goodroad, 2003;Stark, 2006). These health challenges are unique to this subpopulation and create barriers to the receipt of care, and mediate the rising trend of a geriatric HIV positive population.…”

“…Adults aged ≥50 experience a multidimensional form of HIV-related social stigma. Initially, ageist ideologies among many health care workers contribute to the general lack of understanding and recognition of HIV in the older adult (Goodroad, 2003;Stark, 2006). Research indicates relatively high sexual activity and some risk taking behavior among older adults (Gott, C.M., 2001;Inelman et al, 2005;Jacobs & Thomlison, 2009;Neundorfer et al, 2005;Steinke, 1994).…”