Older adults and HIV

Abstract

As the number of older Americans grows, perioperative nurses increasingly will be called on to provide services to older adults infected with HIV. To provide quality patient care, perioperative nurses must understand the facts about HIV and aging individuals. Finally, perioperative nurses must realize the best defense against exposure to bloodborne pathogens (e.g., HIV) is compliance with standard precautions while caring for all patients, from newborns to older adults.

No One Is Immune

“…Although it is absolutely necessary to educate the older adult population about the same risk factors for HIV infection and transmission as younger populations, it is also important to consider the unique physiological and sociocultural factors that place older adults at greater risk for HIV infection than a younger population. For example, research on HIV/AIDS and older adults has found that physiological changes that accompany aging (e.g., vaginal dryness, thinning of the vaginal walls, thinning of the epithelial structure of the anal area) can place older adults at higher risk (Moore & Amburgey, 2000; Zablotsky, 1998), and symptoms associated with HIV often mirror symptoms associated with aging (e.g., fatigue, weight loss, dementia) and thus older adults and/or medical personnel may delay HIV testing (Siegel, Dean, & Schrimshaw, 1999). In addition, using medications to increase sexual performance (Levy-Dweck, 2005), a general lack of condom use (Lindau, Leitsch, Lundbery, & Jerome, 2006), sharing needles when administering drugs and/or insulin (Levy, 1998; Liorente & Malphurs, 2006), and establishing new and multiple sexual partnerships (Ankrom & Greenough, 1997) are specific risk factors for HIV transmission in an older adult population.…”

Perceptions of Vulnerability to HIV Among Older African American Women

“…The normal aging process includes a decline in the immune system's ability to function properly (Moore & Amburgey, 2000). As a result, older adults may be at greater risk when exposed to HIV (Riley, 1997).…”

“…As a result, older adults may be at greater risk when exposed to HIV (Riley, 1997). Older women may be at additional risk for HIV infection during intercourse due to normal aging changes such as decreased vaginal lubrication and estrogen deficiencies which cause thinning of the vaginal walls (Moore & Amburgey, 2000;Whipple & Scura, 1996). These physiological changes allow for more tearing of the vaginal walls during sexual intercourse and provide a direct route for HIV transmission.…”

Sexual Behavior of Older Women

“…1 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that approximately 87,000 (11%) of the total number of AIDS cases reported through June 2001 in the United States involved persons over 50 years of age at time of diagnosis. 1 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that approximately 87,000 (11%) of the total number of AIDS cases reported through June 2001 in the United States involved persons over 50 years of age at time of diagnosis.…”