HIV and Older Adults

Posted by Carolyn Martin on November 8th, 2016 Posted in: HIV/AIDS, Public Health, Senior

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Over 1 million Americans are living with HIV and the number is growing. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 31% percent of people living with HIV nationwide are over the age of 50. Moreover, research indicates that by 2015 half of the people living with HIV in the U.S. will be over more than 50 years old.

With the advent of the 21st century, prevention of HIV has become an important issue for older Americans. Today, 17% of all new HIV/AIDS cases occur among people who have lived to the half century mark and beyond. It is clear that more needs to be done to inform individuals and aging network providers about the importance of educating older Americans about HIV prevention. Resources for older adults can be found at:

• The Administration on Aging HIV/AIDS web page https://nnlm.gov/bhic/t4gb
• CDC – HIV Among People Aged 50 and Over https://nnlm.gov/bhic/y30q