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 Articles in Arabic
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Also see our section on the US Health Issues and World Health Issues South
Africa: Call For Aids Researchers to Refocus on
Elderly Africans (July 23, 2012)
In South Africa, scientists have noted a 6.4% prevalence rate among adults older than 50 years old, in comparison to 16.9% in 15-49 year old. While nations continue to neglect HIV (both awareness and care) among older persons, adults that are HIV positive face many more difficulties than those who are HIV negative. As the population of older persons increases rapidly, so is the HIV rate, thus making it crucial for us to take action now! New Zealand: Homophobia against Seniors would be the Principle Challenge for Caregivers of Older LGBT Adults (July 18, 2012) (Article in Spanish) According to a study by Dr. Gary Bellamy, many older adults fear revealing their homosexuality to their professional caregivers. The study indicates that the sexual orientation of older adults does not influence the quality of care that geriatric facilities and their personnel provide. The majority of personnel view NGO’s that work for older LGBT seniors as a useful resource. Sub-Saharan Africa: HIV Drugs Reach 8 Million in Needy Countries (July 18, 2012) Approximately eight million people are taking antiviral drugs to treat HIV. This increase in drug coverage was followed by a 31% drop in deaths from HIV/AIDS related causes in Sub-Saharan Africa. Sadly, access to this treatment is not universal. All citizens must work to assure such access in Asia, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia. All people have a stake in the fight against HIV/AIDS Uganda: Civil Society Pushes for Elderly Friendly Aids Policies (July 5, 2012) In Uganda, Civil Society Organizations have asked for inclusion of older persons in HIV/AIDS policies. Uganda has a high number of sexually active people who are over 60 years old. Officials say that 64% of the older persons in Uganda are sexually active; some 91% are not using condoms. It is vital that policies are instituted to educate and assure that more citizens protect themselves with condoms. Securing our Future: Advancing Economic Security for Diverse Elders (July 2012) In the US, 1 in 5 seniors are Latino or non-White. By 2030 the number of LGBT older adults will double to 4 million persons. The report describes a number of policy reforms that could benefit the older population regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity, and sexual orientation. World: Older Adults Have a Right to Sex (June 6, 2012) (Article in Spanish) Spanish women ages 65 and older living in their own homes reported on their current sexual behavior. 20% said they had engaged in sexual activity and intercourse formed 60% of these cases. When older adults live in a geriatric residence, privacy is often not permitted for intimate activities. This lack of respect to older persons’ right to intimacy reflects a shortcoming in the training of caregivers and a social taboo against old age sexuality. World: The War on Drugs and HIV/AIDS: How the Criminalization of Drug Use Fuels the Global Pandemic (June 2012) The Global Commission on Drug Policy describes that forms of drug law enforcement that both fail to decrease rates of drug use and block provision of HIV treatment. The report includes a summary of recommendations and details issues within law enforcement that exacerbate the HIV epidemic. Tanzania: Violence Against Older Women: Tackling Witchcraft Accusations in Tanzania (August 2011) In many parts of the world, superstition leads to accusations of witchcraft against older women, sometimes resulting in murder and other forms of violence. Due to limited understanding of HIV and other infections, neighbors may blame older women for the deaths of family members, particularly those of husbands. Inadequacies exist in the current legislation to protect older women against such accusations. Tanzania: Fighting AIDS in Tanzania (June 9, 2011) The writer used an intriguing phrase by saying that since the introduction of Coca-Cola to Tanzania in 1952, it has become ubiquitous. Similar efforts should be made to improve the health care system and beat back the scourges of AIDS. Africa: Africa at the Forefront of AIDS War After 30 years (May 29, 2011) Millions of lives have been destroyed, yet the war against HIV/AIDS now shows signs of progress: infection rates are stabilising or dropping in many countries as access to life-saving drugs widens. But the challenges are huge, especially dealing with access to drugs and promotion of safe sex. In comparison with the rest of the world, the
HIV and AIDS pandemic remains Africa’s greatest
challenge, and it heavily impacts older persons. Why
is HIV/Aids spreading? Unfortunately, older persons
are ignorant of prevention methods; others resist
testing and still more do not disclose their disease
to partners while engaging in unprotected sex.
Superstition or folk knowledge supplies few facts:
some old men believe that having sex with a virgin
cures HIV, referred to as the “sugar daddy”
phenomenon. The authors recommend that older persons
get support, education, and awareness of the deadly
aspect of HIV/AIDS so that they change their behavior.
The population of
African older persons with AIDS is increasing, and yet
very little is being done to improve geriatric care.
According to estimates, about 3 million older persons
are HIV-positive, which represents 14 percent of all HIV
infections. While the primary focus has been on the most
vulnerable people such as children and mothers, older
persons tend to have been ignored. Providing care for
older persons is challenging, as they need specialized
care, but also as the majority live
in rural areas, while care centers are located in urban
areas.
Luanda
: MINARS Support Families Affected by HIV/AIDS with
Basic Supportive Packages (April 9, 2011)
(Article in Spanish) The Ministry of Assistance and Social Reinsertion has given basic supportive packages to the families affected by the HIV/AIDS, mainly in the areas with more incidences of orphan children and older, like the Report:
Africa:
HIV
Infection
in
Older
Adults
in
Sub-Saharan
Africa:
Extrapolating
Prevalence
from
Existing Data (August 2010)
Most HIV studies focus on people under 50 years of age. Yet, because of the aging population and the development of antiretroviral treatments in poor countries, older people who are HIV positive live longer. Now we need to understand better the characteristics of HIV among older people. According to estimates, about 3 million people over 50 years had HIV in 2007 in sub-Saharan Africa. Many lack skills or knowledge about HIV prevention measures. Furthermore, people infected after the age of 55 years have a lower survival rate compared to younger persons. Therefore, governments must focus on the impact of the disease on older people and understand their sexual behaviors and practices. South Africa : HIV:
(Article in Spanish) The grandmothers are indispensable in Uganda: Elderly Complain of
Poor HIV/AIDS Health Services (November 30,
2010)
Elder persons in Uganda have difficulty accessing treatment, prevention methods, and care for HIV/AIDS. These people are usually caretakers of children carrying the virus, whose parents passed on for that same reason. Older persons in Uganda care for over 50% of the 1.7million HIV/AIDS orphans. Zimbabwe: HIV Patients Forced
to Pay Up or Go Without (October 5, 2010)
Corruption in the provision of life-prolonging antiretroviral (ARV) drugs and other HIV services is threatening Zimbabwe's national AIDS response. According to a report recently released by a local human rights group, 73 percent of HIV-positive respondents had been asked to pay bribes for services that were supposed to be free from health workers. Kenya: Training Health
Workers on HIV Prevention for Positives (October 4,
2010)
Kenyan health workers have not been able to prevent HIV-positive people from infecting others because they lack the skills and knowledge to counsel this population. Health workers should receive training on how to identify and counsel patients by learning from other countries about prevention of the disease and treatment of those infected with HIV. East Africa: Community Radio
Reaches Refugees with HIV Messages (October 1, 2010)
An FM radio station broadcasting from the western Tanzanian town of Ngara is giving vital HIV prevention information to thousands of Burundian and Rwandan refugees living in the region. A study shows that radio broadcast messages help promote awareness of HIV risks within the refugee community. Africa: Elderly Need Better
Care (September 27, 2010)
Due to high HIV prevalence in communities, African older women especially are under increasing pressure from the changed social structure to take over the role of breadwinner. South Africa has been in dire need of an overhaul of health and social services to provide effective care for people older than 50. Kenya: Targeting Older
People in HIV Prevention (September 17, 2010)
(Article also available in French) The NGO HelpAge Kenya is targeting older adults, an often-neglected population of HIV-infected people. HelpAge Kenya does this by speaking to older adults in Kenya about how HIV is transmitted and how they can protect themselves by practicing safe sex, being tested and seeking medical help when needed. Report: Africa: AIDS and
Declining Support for Dependent Elderly People in
Africa (2010)
The British Medical Journal posted a critical report that addresses the state of HIV/AIDS and its effect on the population of sub-Saharan African elderly. As the number of adults over the age of 60 is expected to rise by 55% over the next 15 years, this demographic change will increase the dependency of older adults and the demand for support for the elderly. Conversely, the HIV/AIDS epidemic continues to decrease the availability of caregivers, due to the high mortality of younger adults. This report examines how the demographic changes prompted by the HIV/AIDS epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa have led to an increase in the number of older persons living alone without the support of younger family members and/or with care-giving responsibilities for children. Africa: A Plea from Africa:
Grandmothers Raising Orphans Cross Canada for AIDS
Support (September 7, 2010)
AIDS is the leading cause of death in sub-saharan Africa, mostly for the young and young parents in particular. This demographics high mortality rate causes Grandmothers who count on being cared for by their children to instead raise their grandchildren alone. The Stephen LEwis Foundation's AfriGrand Caravan AIDS awareness tour has embarked on a journey to call on Canadians for African AID support. A conference in Manzini, Swaziland ended with the Manzini Statement, a call for pensions, property rights and basic social supports that older women in Africa simply do not have. Africa: Orphaned
Elderly Serious Casualty of African AIDS Epidemic,
Stanford Study Finds (June 17, 2010)
Researchers for a recent Stanford University project established a very strong correlation between the rise in AIDS-related mortality rates and an increase in older people living alone in sub-Saharan Africa. Due to the increase in AIDS-related deaths in sub-Saharan Africa, nearly a million older adults live alone without the benefit of any caregivers. Many also take care of young children less than 10 years of age, creating households with a missing generation of adults. South Africa: South Africa
Redoubles Efforts against AIDS (April 26, 2010)
President Jacob Zuma has launched a massive program of HIV/AIDS testing, education and treatment. HIV/AIDS has been notoriously prevalent in South Africa and ignored by presidents and governments; in fact, some past officials were ignorant of the facts concerning the disease. HIV/AIDS affects older people in several ways as they are not only at risk of infection but they also assume parenting roles amidst poverty and limited resources. UNAIDS hails this program as the biggest effort against AIDS ever. Swaziland: Africa's
Grandmothers Debate HIV/Aids (May 6, 2010)
(Article also available in Arabic) African grandmothers have gathered in Swaziland to discuss the impact of HIV/Aids on their lives. Many become the primary caregivers for their grandchildren after losing their own adult children to the disease. Organizers say they hope to create a "solidarity movement" of African grandmothers to attract targeted aid. Africa: Grandmothers' Summit to
Put Spotlight on Africa's 'Forgotten Victims' of Aids
(May 3, 2010)
A summit in Swaziland will convene more than 450 grandmothers from 12 African countries to meet and discuss the impact of losing adult children to Aids. They will discuss how they take care of their grief-stricken grandchildren as their own. The summit was held between May 6 and 8, by Swaziland Positive Living in partnership with the Stephen Lewis Foundation, which supports community-based organizations fighting HIV/Aids in Africa. South Africa: Retired Doctors
to Help Test for HIV in SAfrica
(March 25, 2010)
The South African government has launched the world's largest voluntary HIV counseling and testing campaign. In a country deeply hit by the virus--an estimated 5.7 million South Africans have HIV--the government hopes to test 15 million people. To achieve that goal, the health minister is asking retired doctors and health workers to help. South Africa: Elderly Face Up
to HIV (March 19, 2010)
Look at the example of Nomusa Nxasana, a 58-year-old mother of one, who became HIV-positive while caring for her two infected cousins. Older people are getting more HIV infections and the rate of increase is rising. The Muthande Society for the Aged has organized a campaign to heighten awareness about the dangers and difficulties faced by adults living with the virus. They advocate that the government include women in its focus on HIV/AIDS. Report:
Africa: HIV and AIDS Strategy for Older People (2009)
HIV/AIDS hurts older persons in two ways. Older women often provide care for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) and people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV). Older carers face critical challenges. They lack sufficient incomes to provide decent care and often sell their assets to meet the costly caregiving needs of those who are infected with the virus. Kenya: "Men of the Blood"
Come Clean (December 11, 2009)
Every December, the village of Kangete in eastern Kenya's Nyambene District gears up for yet another season of festivities—but it’s not Christmas. Rather, hundreds of young men are circumcised as an initiation into manhood. Kenya has officially adopted medical male circumcision as part of its national HIV prevention strategy. A traditional circumciser, or mutani, is still the preferred choice for Nyambene's ethnic Meru community. Zimbabwe: Anna Matopodza, "When I Tell People
I am a Grandmother, They Do Not Believe Me" (November
3, 2009)
When Anna Matopodza, 55, from a village in the Buhera district of Manicaland Province, Zimbabwe, found out she was HIV-positive, she worried about who would look after her five children when she died. The thought of death haunted her for months. Then she joined a dance group and traveled around the world, teaching people about HIV/AIDS, through song and dance. Mozambique: Quiet
Progress Against HIV/AIDS (October 31, 2009)
When Dorothy Kakongwe smiles, her creases tell stories no history book can recount. This elderly nurse can reflect on numerous changes in the landscape and people around her. "During the war, everyone was living in the bush," she said. "It was very hard. The sick people would have to come to where we were hiding. Women would give birth in the bush." With limited understanding of and education on health, many illnesses went undiagnosed and untreated, including AIDS. Botswana: More Elderly People
Getting Infected with HIV (June 17, 2009)
A Botswana Aids Impact Survey (BAIS) study released this year shows that an increasing number of older people are getting infected, whereas in the past, figures showed youth as the most infected. In past years, campaigns and strategies for preventing HIV focused on youth, expected to be more sexually active. In the process, there was little attention given to HIV prevention for the middle aged and elderly. Africa:
Ageing in Africa (May 2009)
This HelpAge International analysis examines the dilemma of HIV/AIDS among older Africans and its impact on others. Read about the Memory Book and Will project which helps those dying with HIV/AIDS to communicate their history and their will to their family. Tanzania: Grandmas Helping a
World Away (April 11, 2009)
Growing old can be challenging for Tanzania’s older citizens. The advent of HIV has been particularly challenging. While relatively few senior citizens are infected, many watch their adult children die of the virus and have been left to raise their grandchildren. This situation can prove very difficult due to the lack of social services, compounded by the burden of their own failing health. Africa: International
Women’s Day: Older Care Addresses UN (March 6, 2009)
Kufekise Laugrey, an older woman from Zambia, shared her experience of caring for several family members living with HIV at an event co-sponsored by HelpAge International, held in advance of International Women's Day. She spoke about the impact that caring for her family members has had on her. She described how older people provide HIV-related care but remain largely invisible in the response to the disease. Kenya:
Grandparents
Struggle to Keep Teens in Line (January 29, 2009)
In Kenya, there are approximately 1.2 million children who have been orphaned by AIDS, HelpAge Kenya reports that 89% of the children are cared for by their grandparents. These older people are usually too poor to provide for all the needs of the orphans. The children, in turn, especially young girls, are increasingly turning to prostitution to meet their economic needs. Report:
Africa: Mind The Gap: HIV and AIDS and Older Persons
in Africa (December 2008)
In 2006, UNAIDS stated that a substantial proportion of people living with HIV and AIDS are 50 years and older and estimated that 2.8 million people aged 50 and over were living with HIV. Nevertheless, HIV programs often discriminate against older people because many health and relief workers think that older people are no longer sexually active and therefore not at risk of HIV. However, older persons are very much at risk. This report sets out the need to strengthen the response to HIV in Africa by providing interventions on the basis of need rather than age. It highlights the way that older people can be infected with HIV and the vital support that many offer to their children and grandchildren. Malawi: Trying to Alleviate the
Burden of the Old (November 14, 2008)
A recent government report, "Social Protection and Ageing in Malawi," states that Malawi's older population is receiving less care and support from their children and communities. Extreme poverty and the HIV/AIDS epidemic put pressure on the nation's seniors, who have to raise their orphaned grandchildren and survive on less than US $1 a day. In 2008, the government set up a cash transfer scheme to alleviate the burden of the old in the country’s poorest households. About 12,000 families received social cash transfers by the end of March 2008. Malawi is still in need of a comprehensive social protection program to help make seniors' income secure. Cameroon: Helping Hand for
Cameroon's Lonely Elderly (September 30, 2008)
HIV/AIDS rates in Cameroon are devastating, leaving most older persons with no children to look after them in their old age. This article presents inspirational stories of how elderly women responded to critical demands made upon them in these difficult situations. Written by an officer working with Community Development Volunteers for Technical Assistance, the group organizes meetings for older persons that help develop a sense of community to deal with family crises. “When we sit together and talk we can forget our pains,” says Teresa Tung, whose four children died from AIDS in one year, leaving her to bring up her grandchildren on her own. Ethiopia: Older People Missing Out
on HIV/AIDS Indicators (September 18, 2008)
“Older people miss out on HIV/AIDS indicators because of widely held misconceptions about their sexuality and other misleading statistical computations”, said Lizzie Nkosi, HelpAge International Ethiopia Program Director. Older people are at high risk of HIV/AIDS infection since public health campaigns are targeted at the young population. How can old people benefit from the information available on how to protect against HIV/AIDS? Tanzania: NGO Asks for
Government Assistance to Elderly HIV/Aids Caretakers
(August 30, 2008)
The article reports on efforts by HelpAge International to urge the government of Tanzania to allocate funds to support elderly caretakers of orphans whose parents have died of HIV/Aids. Douglas Lackey, manager at HelpAge International Africa Regional Development Centre, has called on the government to officially recognize the role of older persons as care givers, particularly women. UNICEF research found that grandparents, particularly grandmothers, cared for around 40 per cent of all orphans in Tanzania. The article also notes the lack of education on issues of HIV/Aids for older persons. As a result, HIV among older age groups has largely gone undetected and unreported. Uganda:
Old and Neglected (August 20, 2008)
“I fear that when I die, it is only the terrible smell that will alert the community,” says Imelda Nampiima of Mityana, an old woman living in Uganda. According to the newly published study on the elderly in Uganda, over a million older people lack food, money, clean water and health services, and have no family support due to the AIDS/HIV epidemic in the country. Mozambique: Living with HIV
and an Empty Stomach (August 11, 2008)
Ana Costa has dropped out of the Antiretroviral (ARV) drug program provided by Medecins Sans Frontieres because she lacks food. ARVs are strong medicines that require nourishment along with the medication. She complains of nausea and weakness as a result of taking the drugs with an empty stomach. Unfortunately, for many Mozambicans food remains unaffordable. Many are unable to go to work because of physical weakness, and without income they are unable to buy food. They are trapped in a cycle of poverty. Programs that provide food support for six-month periods are available, but are unable to reach everyone who needs help. Kenya: In Kenya, HIV Orphans
and Grandparents Live in Special Village (August 6,
2008)
In the Kitui District of eastern Kenya, children orphaned by HIV/AIDS and grandparents who have lost their sons and daughters to HIV/AIDS live together in a special village. “These are two lost generations, because the grandparents have been left behind by their children, and the children have been left behind by their parents. So there is a need to reach out to these grandparents,” says Sister Mary Owens, co-founder of Nyumbani Village. The village also provides accessible education and medical services--“a dream come true” for its inhabitants. Malawi:
Senior
Citizens to Get Social Security (July 1, 2008)
The Malawi government plans to start a pension scheme for older persons. This will ensure that they will have access to basic necessities. The government also held a consultative conference in Blantyre to draft the National Policy for Elderly Persons. The policy is expected to protect the human rights of the elderly and help alleviate problems such as the HIV/ AIDS epidemic. Consultative conferences will also be held in Lilongwe and Mzuzu before holding a national meeting to finalize the policy proposal for the government. Swaziland: Tears over AIDS,
Inequality in Africa (May 26, 2008)
“Grandmothers, the Heart of the Nation!” “Grandmothers and their Unpaid Work.” Over 1,500 grandmothers waved such signs as they marched along the streets in Swaziland. A delegation of 12 Canadian grandmothers supported this demonstration and others as they traveled across rural Africa to help older women fight against gender inequality and AIDS epidemic. Read this disturbing report on grandmothers losing their emotional battle in a country “where men have final say.” Liberia: Global Aids Week
2008 Begins (May 20, 2008)
At present, AIDS continues to kill almost 6,000 people each day. More than two out of three HIV positive people still lack access to treatment. Liberia started a candlelight walk during Global Aids Week 2008. For the last two years 30 countries have organized actions during Global AIDS Week. Global Action on Aging will keep readers posted on the United Nation's General Assembly Special Session on AIDS and the many planned workshops. GAA will be represented in these events. Ethiopia: Local NGO
Supporting HIV/Aids Orphans, Helpless Elders (May 12,
2008)
Global Action on Aging researchers are finding more and more articles about old people and HIV/AIDS, making it imperative that awareness of this devastating problem continues to increase. One example of a positive response is a local non-governmental agency working with children and adults in the region of Addis Ababa. Here, elders make sets of educational materials and school bags for children and provide soap to both the children and elderly. Many of the children are HIV/AIDS infected. Some have lost their parents to the disease. Nigeria: In Nigeria, HIV/AIDS
Spares Neither Older Persons nor Young People (May 3,
2008)
(Article in French) A new article from IRIN, an information service attached to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, reveals that more than 4 million Nigerians are infected with HIV/AIDS, making it one of the top countries in the world to suffer the devastation of this pandemic. UNICEF officials said there are 1.8 million orphaned children in Nigeria whose parents have died from the disease. Grandparents often have the responsibility for providing care for their grandchildren, as well as their own adult children. Tanzania: Lack of Education on HIV 'Endangers Old People' (May 2, 2008) Help Age International
points out that old people in Tanzania have a key role
in society: They take care of their orphaned
grandchildren. Because of this responsibility to raise
their grandchildren, they especially need more education
about the dangers of HIV and how to keep from
contracting the disease.
Namibia: Elderly and HIV/AIDS in Country (May, 2 2008) May 9 marks a national
HIV Testing Day in Namibia this year as a way to
mobilize people to test for HIV. Meanwhile, the number
of elderly people living with HIV/AIDS is quickly
increasing worldwide. It is time to acknowledge that
older persons are at high infection risk and to give
them not only the means to be tested but also the
awareness of their own susceptibility to the disease.
South Africa: South Africa: Lucia Ngobeni: "Before, It Was Difficult for Old People to Talk About Sex" (May 2008) This author describes
the extraordinary work of Lucia Ngobeni.
She paid attention to children in South Africa and
founded a granny organization to help and teach
children. She believed it was important that the young
get information as soon as possible about HIV/AIDS.
Children get infected as early as age 13 years. While it
was not so easy for old people to speak about safer sex,
they began to campaign due to the strong need for them
to speak out.
Uganda: Older People Spreading HIV More (March 28, 2008) With this headline one
might expect a report about people of 60 years onward.
However, the author, Grace Natabaalo,
is reporting on “older people” in Africa where life
expectancy in many countries is low. She says that
affected persons, mostly married or formerly married,
are contracting HIV infections due to multiple sex
partners.
Report: Africa: Supporting the Vital Role Played by Older People in the Fight against the HIV and AIDS Pandemic (February 2008) Help Age International
estimates that half the elderly population in HIV/AIDS
affected areas care for orphaned children or sick adult
children. However, these older persons often face
discrimination and don’t get appropriate resources to
fight against HIV/AIDS. That is why governments and
NGO’s need to involve older persons in their social
protection and awareness programs.
Kenya: Old But Not Cold: Older People Also At Risk (November 8, 2007) Older persons are as susceptible to
HIV/AIDS and other blood-transmitted diseases as any
other age groups. Help Age International and local
Kenyan advocates are challenging the government’s
National AIDS Control Council (NACC) to draw up a
strategy for dealing with HIV/AIDS among older people. A
lack of HIV-positive role models among the older
generation is a possible reason the pandemic is
considered to be a ‘young people’s problem.’ Also,
harmful cultural practices such as polygamy and wife
inheritance are responsible for placing older people at
increased risk of HIV. Initiatives such as training
older people in home-based care, peer education and
counseling would give the elderly easier access to HIV
information.
Uganda: Ugandan Elderly are Not Well Cared For (November 8, 2007) Uganda’s Constitution
recognizes the rights and value of the elderly, and
maintains that provisions be made for their welfare. A
seminar organized by the Uganda Network of Aged and
Retired Persons (UNARP) focused on determining how well
the state has been carrying out the constitutional
provisions. The seminar revealed issues that need to be
addressed: economic dependency aggravated by small
social security benefits, segregation and isolation,
chronic loneliness and seniors burdened with caring for
children of relatives dying from HIV/AIDS. The
Government as well as citizens should participate in
providing more resources to elderly persons.
South Africa: Social Pensions: South African Families Coping with AIDS (August 20, 2007) A US study from
Professor Enid Schatz, University of Missouri-Columbia,
showed the positive impact of “older generation's
government pensions.” Many families in South Africa have
to confront the death of their primary income earners
because of HIV/AIDS, since the pandemic affects first
the middle generation. Those social pensions, widely
implemented in South Africa, help to maintain an entire
household. The study gives the example of an elderly
woman and her husband who support 12 people.
Sudan-Uganda: Programs Disregard HIV among the Elderly (July 27, 2007) Worldwide around 2.8
million persons over 50 are living with HIV. However,
older persons continue to be excluded from HIV/AIDS
information sessions and medical check-up that could
detect the virus early. HelpAge
International takes the view that effectively tackling
the pandemic among the elderly means acknowledging their
sexuality, and recognizing their right to equal access
to voluntary counseling and testing, antiretroviral
treatment and targeted information.
Report: Africa: Population Aging in Sub-Saharan Africa: Demographic Dimensions 2006 (June 2007) Although the older
population in most developing countries seems relatively
small compared to developed countries, poor countries
will experience a rapid increase in the “absolute”
number of older persons. In sub-Saharan Africa, where
the numbers of older persons will raise from 35 million
over 60 in 2006 to over 69 million by 2030, the sheer
number of older persons grows more rapidly than in
developed countries. This report looks at age groups
50-80 and focuses in particular on the effects of
HIV/AIDS on population aging.
Namibia: Elderly Couple Copes with HIV (March 30, 2007) New Era, a Namibian
newspaper, reports on an elderly couple living with
HIV/AIDS in Namibia. Since they learned about the
diagnosis of their disease, 63-year-old Vila Amand and his wife, 61-year-old
Martha Costa, go to the Kavango
Bridges of Hope in Rundu
every week for HIV/Aids counseling. This article alerts
readers to the fact that older persons suffer from
HIV/AIDS more commonly than many would guess.
Undoubtedly the plague of HIV/AIDS makes elderly even
more vulnerable than they would be otherwise.
Swaziland: The Elderly Have No Time to Retire (August 28, 2007) "The elderly are rife
for exploitation, and they are being exploited by a
society that requires them to do demanding work,
regardless of their age or infirmities." In many African
countries older persons, especially older women, act as
care givers of HIV/AIDS orphans, without sufficient
support or recognition by humanitarian organizations or
the government. "My grandchildren are fed, they are even
well-fed,” by government or privately sponsored
programs, says Granny Tsela.
"But no one prepares meals for the elderly. I am at home
with my little bit of porridge, if I am lucky enough to
have that."
Kenya: Grannies Who Are Unsung Heroes in the Fight Against HIV/Aids (August 24, 2007) According to national
statistics, out of a total population of 32 million,
Kenya has 2.4 million orphans, of which 1.2 million are
orphaned by the HIV/AIDS crisis. Taking up the burden of
the orphans’ care are mostly their grandmothers.
Although most of them are “too old to do simple domestic
chores,” “they have no choice but to get up and look for
food, medication and shelter.” Largely ignored by the
government and aid organizations, the grandmothers are
slowly receiving more recognition. While the government
plans programs to improve support mechanisms, a movie,
“The Grandmother’s Tribe,” detailing their plight will
come to the cinemas later this year.
Africa: Population Aging in Sub-Saharan Africa: Demographic Dimensions 2006 (June 2007) Although the older
population in most developing countries seems relatively
small compared to developed countries, poor countries
will experience a rapid increase in the “absolute”
number of older persons. In sub-Saharan Africa, where
the numbers of older persons will raise from 35 million
over 60 in 2006 to over 69 million by 2030, the sheer
number of older persons grows more rapidly than in
developed countries. This report looks at age groups
50-80 and focuses in particular on the effects of
HIV/AIDS on population aging.
Mary, a 7-year-old
child with HIV infection, lives with her 80-year-old
paraplegic grandmother in Uganda. They receive
palliative care from a home-based care program. The
book, “Hospice and Palliative Care in Africa,” contains
plenty of such stories, presenting interviews with
palliative care experts from 26 African countries
showing the complexities of delivering palliative care
across Africa.
This study from Help
Age International and Save the Children elucidates the
problem of poverty among children in southern and
eastern Africa and how it affects the elderly in their
society. Even though Botswana and Lesotho are rich and
poor countries (respectively), they both have
non-contributory social pensions. Many of the adult
children of the elderly have passed away because of AIDS
resulting in the elderly caring for the grandchildren.
Grandparents are the most common carers
of orphan children even though there is extended family.
Because grandparents do not have the funding to support
their grandchildren, many are living in poverty. That's
why this study calls for “unconditional cash transfers”
to promote a ‘progressive’ social protection agenda.
Social protection is important because it includes such
a broad range of programs like pensions, family
allowances or child benefits, school feeding programs,
and health insurance. The childhood poverty problem for
the present generation will also lead to poverty for the
next generation unless some changes are made to
interrupt the poverty cycle.
Grandparents in
Mozambique: Elderly 'Witches' Persecuted in Mozambique (July 3, 2002) Younger people are
accusing older women in Mozambique of witchcraft as they
attempt to use traditional medicine to heal those
infected with HIV/AIDS. The prevalence of HIV and AIDS
is high in central Mozambique, where families attack
elderly women, driving them away from their homes. The
practice of elderly ‘healers’ to conjure up spirits to
aid HIV-infected children often times coincides with the
death of these untreated individuals, providing an
unfounded basis for the accusations. HelpAge International has
intervened to protect the accused by helping the local
community understand that disease is the culprit, not
the older healer. However, some people continue to deem
traditional healers ‘liars’ and frauds while others have
faith in their healing powers.
Return to Top of Page Growing
Old with HIV (July 26, 2012)
Rayford Kytle, a 65 year old gay man who has lived with HIV for the past 30 years, took part in the 2012 International AIDS Conference. He wanted to learn about the latest developments, research, care and prevention of the disease. By 2020, the projected number of people over 50 living with HIV/AIDS will be over 50 percent of the infected population. Currently, the number of elders living with HIV in the United States is estimated at 33 percent of all seniors. People living with HIV, especially seniors, are more likely to be affected by chronic illnesses than their non-infected counterparts. Elders living with HIV must stay healthy; taking too many medications may have adverse effects. Advancing
Economic Security for Diverse Elders (July 2012)
In the US, 1 in 5 seniors are Latino or non-White. By 2030 the number of LGBT older adults will double to 4 million persons. The report describes a number of policy reforms that could benefit the older population regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity, and sexual orientation. US:
FDA Approves First Drug for Reducing the Risk of
Sexually Acquired HIV Infection (July 16, 2012)
The FDA approves Truvada! Truvada is the first drug approved to reduce the risk of HIV infection in uninfected individuals who are at high risk of HIV, allowing them to engage in sexual activity with HIV infected partners. Truvada’s approval is an important step in our fight against HIV. However, Truvada is only to be used by individuals who are HIV negative and it acts as a PrEP, Pre- Exposure Prophylaxis. By using Truvada, the risk of getting infected with HIV is reduced by 75% in heterosexuals! US: The 21st Century Identity of AIDS: People Over 50 (August 12, 2011) According to AARP,
one out of seven new diagnoses of HIV or AIDS occurs
in a person over the age of 50; by 2017, half of the
total HIV-positive population will be over 50. It is a
popular fallacy that HIV or AIDS is a consequence of
irresponsible sexual behavior among youth, and that
people over 50 are less likely to have the disease.
For the sake of health, it is suggested that persons
get screened any time they are thinking of becoming
sexually active or changing partners.”
US: AIDS Survivors Suffer Premature Aging (June 12, 2011) Many long-term HIV survivors have been showing symptoms of
premature or “accelerated” aging. Together with the
aging process, the HIV infection and anti-retroviral
drugs are making these individuals more prone to
illnesses and becoming frail a decade or two ahead of
schedule. Scientists, governments, and health
officials should work more closely to address the
needs of HIV survivors.
Puerto Rico: A New Age Group
of HIV Carriers in San Juan (June 5, 2011)
(Article in Spanish) There is a new age group in Puerto Rico consisting of older persons between the ages of 45 and 55 who are infected with HIV. Sandra Basso, with a bachelor’s degree in social work, states that this could be because this age group is part of an older generation where, when they were younger, they did not use condoms (because the subject of sex protection was taboo) or because they are just finding out now the need for their use. (Article in Spanish) According to UNAIDS,
25% of people infected with AIDS will be over 60 years
old in the year 2020. Costa Rica is no exception.
Statistics from the Ministry of Health show that 8
people living in the country with HIV are over 60
years old. Living with AIDs at this age is a great
challenge because older persons have to fight against
a double stigmatization: they are old and they have a
disease that is considered taboo.
“The older I get, the more I wonder, why am I still here
when everyone is gone?” This is the question that every
senior citizen living with AIDS asks, especially after
losing countless friends to the disease. Now, more than
30 percent of all those with HIV are 50 years old or
older. In 1985, Bill Rydwels--now 78-- was diagnosed
with HIV; three decades later, telling his story!
US: AIDS: Sex and Seniors in the City, Forum and Film on HIV/AIDS and Older Gays (June 1, 2011) The US Center for
Disease Control and Prevention statistics revealed
that in 2005 people over age 50 made up 35 percent of
AIDS deaths and 15 percent of new HIV infections. Some
older adults may mistake HIV symptoms like fatigue for
signs of aging, but stigma prevents many people from
getting tested, discussing HIV with sexual partners,
and finally, talking about HIV if they are positive.
Therefore, education about AIDS for the elderly is
essential.
Argentina: Mortality Rates Decrease in Argentina 30 Years From the First Case of HIV (June 5, 2011) (Article in Spanish) Each
year, the Ministry of Health of Argentina receives
about 5,000 new diagnoses of HIV and in the last three
years one in five people who were diagnosed were 45
years old or older. This number may seem high;
however, deaths from HIV have decreased by 15% in the
last five years, according to official data from the
Office of AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Diseases.
Argentina: Thirty Years of Fighting Against AIDS (June 5, 2011) (Video in Spanish) This site features a short video showing older persons living with AIDS. US: The Unexpected
Battles that Face Older People with AIDS (May 31,
2011)
(Article in Arabic) Growing old with AIDS was not expected for the eighties and nineties generations infected by the HIV virus. Patients who attained the age of 55 and carry the AIDS virus are at more risk to get other diseases such as chronic conditions, diabetes and cancer, compared to people who have reached age 70. At the beginning, AIDS patients died at a very early age, but today more than a quarter of the patients who reach age 50 and above survive, according to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). US: Elderly in NY Hit Hard by AIDS (May 30, 2011) (Article in Spanish) In New
York City more than 75% of people infected with HIV
are over 40 years old and the number is steadily
growing. Studies show this increase is due to sexual
intercourse among the elderly who are simply not
accustomed to using protection. This is a reminder
that AIDS is not only a disease for the young, but
older persons are also infected because of lack of
education.
US : Aging with AIDS, New Challenge for Patients (May 29, 2011) (Article in French)
People with AIDS are living longer and longer thanks to research and improved treatments. Thus, today a quarter of the patients are aged 50 and more. This statement is something strongly positive, but we need to keep in mind some negative aspects. Indeed, according to the American Academy of HIV Medicine, patients aged 55 and more are three times more likely to suffer from a chronic disease like cancer or diabetes, than a non-seropositive of 70 year-old. Moreover, the struggle of those who grow old with AIDS is harder again with loneliness and social isolation as well as financial problems. Testimonies of people living in San Francisco support this article. US: AIDS, 30 Years Later (May 28, 2011) (Article in Spanish and English) Three
decades later, patients have better drugs, more hope
and new complications. Researchers say they have
identified a new threat called immune senility, which
is the premature aging of the immune system. This new
risk is causing cancer, heart attacks, loss of
alertness and other illnesses associated with aging.
Report: US: Older People and HIV (May 27, 2011) Check out
this fact sheet about HIV-infected older people. It
includes statistics from the US, as well as the causes
and effects of the infection related to older
people. In particular, the authors examine how
older persons with HIV compare to younger HIV-infected
individuals.
US: UN, US Re-Evaluate HIV/AIDS Treatment Targets (May 27, 2011) The AIDS epidemic can
be controlled but how much money will the governments
agree on giving to put people under treatment? While
this question will be raised during the UN High Level
Session on AIDS on June 8, 2011, countries will also
need to determine who should be the first recipients of
medications. With a stress put on children and pregnant
women, older people may be left aside due to their age
or the advanced-stage of the disease.
Canada: Aging with HIV/AIDS (May 10, 2011) (Article in French) While a
person is traditionally considered as an older person
from 65 years onward, for individuals with HIV/AIDS
old age begins at about 50 years. Older persons living
with HIV/AIDS encounter multiple difficulties. In
addition to the effects of the disease and drugs, they
must cope with aging issues along with enduring the
prejudices of other seniors. Therefore, all seniors
need to develop some awareness and empathy toward
elders who are living with HIV/AIDS.
US: HIV and Aging: Am I ready for It – And is the Healthcare System Ready for Me? (April 29, 2011)
Fifty-seven year old Wayne Bristow takes a deep look
at what aging with HIV really means. He talks about
people having lived with HIV for over 25 years when
they were given months to live; how they have watched
their friends die, only to start thinking “Why am I
still here?” Long-time survivors of HIV are aging
faster than people who don’t have the virus. What is
needed now is more education in the healthcare system,
especially when it comes to long-term care facilities
that Bristow says are still not ready for HIV
patients.
(Article in French) Medicine has increased
life expectancy of people living with HIV/AIDS. Although
the health community has the capacity to care for older
persons living with HIV/AIDS, there is
an increasing number of people infected by the virus
among people age 50 and over. The 50 years and older
suffer from a lack of information. Indeed, elder
sexuality remains a taboo for many persons and
prevention campaigns for elders are more difficult to
implement.
(Report in French) Between
1979 and 2008, 12.4% of people infected by HIV/AIDS
were over 50 years old. Among these, 90.2% were men
who had sex with men. During the last 10 years, the
number of infected older persons
has increased. However, the rate of screening
for HIV has remained low. Older Canadians belong to a
group that has not and now does not use condoms during
sex. Also, they are less likely to discuss sexual
issues with their doctors. Can we expect their rate of
HIV/AIDS to increase? Of course!
A recent study showed that 45% of people
over 50 years old reported risk factors, including
multiple partners, STDs, and alcohol or drug use. The
CDC estimates that by 2015, 50% of all people with HIV
in the US will be over 50 years old, and more than 30%
will be women. Most important, this report includes
information and strategies for HIV prevention among
older adults.
(Article in Spanish) The
use of sexual enhancers (like Viagra) has allowed the
elderly to maintain an active sexual life. However,
these products have not been accompanied by campaigns
about ways to prevent sexually transmitted diseases
like HIV/AIDS. Doctors may misdiagnose HIV in the
elderly, as symptoms are similar to those for chronic
syndrome of confusion or dementia.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, sexually transmitted disease (STD) rates
are going up by about 50% for men over 40 between 1996
and 2008. The Federal Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services (CMS) may add new STD exams to the
list of exams reimbursed by Medicare, the federal
health insurance program for about 40 million US
seniors. CMS is planning to issue its new Medicare
screening recommendations by Aug. 24.
Many older people in
the US are sexually active. About half of sexually
active older people have at least one concern of sexual
disease or condition. Sexually transmitted infections
are prevalent in both older men and women, particularly
in women and in minority racial and ethnic groups. Older
adults face barriers to talking about HIV risk and
sexual problems. Limited HIV prevention messages,
counseling, and tests for older adults will increase the
problems.
Nowadays, older people
over 50 years old represent almost 29% of persons living
with AIDS or HIV in the US. Facing a fast increase among
older people being infected, the issue raises about
informing older persons on the risks of contracting the
disease. Actually older people tend to be diagnosed
later than younger people because some early symptoms of
HIV can be considered as normal aging symptoms. In
addition, the medical treatment of older people with HIV
can lead to complications due to interactions with other
medications. Therefore, special information targeting
exclusively the older population needs to be written and
distributed.
The lack of sex
education among older adults has increased rates
of sexually transmitted diseases, HIV / AIDS.
According to the Ministry of Health, the cases of
older persons diagnosed with HIV in Argentina
in 2001 came to 7 percent, in
2008, they nearly doubled: 12 percent.
Those infected with HIV live longer thanks
to better treatments. However, aging with HIV poses
new challenges for the health system. A
(Article in Spanish) Informing older adults
about sex education can be a matter of life or death.
HIV and AIDS do not discriminate by age. In the United
States 29% of people with AIDS are older than 50 years,
according to the AIDS Info Net.
There is a myth that
being age 50 and older means you can not contract AIDs
however, the statistics from the state department of
health in New York shows otherwise. More than 47,000
people over 50 have contracted the disease which makes
up 38% of all people living with the disease in the
state.
The state of Wyoming is
experiencing a rise in HIV infections in people ages 45
to 64. The Wyoming department of health states this is
because "safer sex messages are rarely targeted toward
older adults." This is unacceptable considering 19% of
the Wyoming population is infected and by 2015 all cases
of HIV in the US will be in people over the age of
50.
The 3rd annual National
HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day will be celebrated on
September 18, 2010. The campaign’s core focus is
regarding the challenges that older people with HIV or
AIDS face. Overall, raising national awareness for this
rapidly growing trend is the primary goal.
People age 50 and older
make up more than 10 percent of total AIDS cases in the
United States. Why a senior citizens contracting STD’s
or HIV? How can elder sexual abuse be detected? Are
older adults enjoying their sex lives? This article
explores the relationship between seniors with
sex.
The population of older
people with HIV is growing rapidly. More than 50% of
HIV-positive Americans will be older than 50 by 2015. A
recently published study explores the relationship
between age and the effectiveness of HIV treatment,
finding that older HIV patients are more immune to
treatment than younger patients.
Omas
Siskona (Grandmothers
Together) is a charity in Canada devoted to raising
awareness and funds for Africa’s grandmothers. There are
more than 220 groups across Canada working on this
campaign, and two of its members went on a hike of the
El Camino trail to help raise awareness. While walking,
they keep in mind the daily struggles of grandmothers in
sub-Saharan Africa who are raising their orphaned
grandchildren due to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
More than a
half-million individuals who have been diagnosed with
HIV/AIDS since the epidemic began have died, and
two-thirds did not live until age 45.This article tells
of the recent data from the Centers for disease Control
and Prevention which is quite alarming. The number of
people living with HIV/AIDS who are at least age 50 has
doubled since 2001 to more than 155,000.
In contrast to the
younger population, many older adults do not perceive
unprotected sex as a high risk behavior. As a result,
they are less concerned about using contraception than
younger people. In addition to the fact that HIV
symptoms can be easily mistaken for the signs of aging,
older persons are in fact more vulnerable to HIV/AIDS.
Under these circumstances, every country needs to
educate the older population about the risks and
prevention of HIV/AIDS. Jackson Memorial Center (the
University of Miami) conducted the study to discover a
possible relationship between intervention and reduction
in sexual risks behavior.
The author provides an
overview of Aging and HIV that was produced for a public
policy department in the US. Today nearly one-third of
people living with HIV are over the age of 50 years, a
figure that will grow to one half by 2015. This
situation is becoming more common since persons with HIV
are living longer due to HAART (Highly Active Antriretroviral Therapy).
Therefore, aging with HIV challenges health and human
services system across all sectors, at all levels. This
through going report also covers the impact of HIV
testing, the biological impact of HIV on aging bodies,
and social service and healthcare programs designed to
care for older adults and people living with HIV.
Older people are living
longer and more vibrant lives. This older generation
never dreamed it would be vulnerable to HIV/AIDS, yet
with continued sexual activity into their old age, HIV/AIDS is becoming a large
concern. In New Jersey, HIV/AIDS cases among the older
population are increasing, with a 17.5 percent increase
from 2007 to 2008.
Older HIV patients,
usually defined as 50 years old and above, face
different risks than do younger patients. They are at
higher risk for certain diseases and symptoms such as
diarrhea, pain and depression. Lifestyle choices such as
smoking or substance abuse can impact their medication
use. Consequently, it is essential for clinicians to
encourage their HIV patients to stay “as healthy as
possible for as long as possible.”
An increasing number of
older people and/or younger patients growing old with
HIV are diagnosed as frail. In fact, in coming years, as
the nation's HIV patient population ages, HIV clinicians
likely will see increasing numbers of frail patients. As
a result, the National Osteoporosis Foundation of
Washington, DC, now recommends that bone density
screening be routine for HIV patients older than 50
years of age. Patients can be screened for frailty
through many criteria such as health conditions that
interfere with daily activities and those who require
assistance for bathing and taking medications.
Trump AIDS is a
national campaign that combines recreation with public
health education to Black Americans 40 years and older.
Playing a traditional pastime of bid whist combined with
health outreach, this often-overlooked population with
HIV/AIDS is empowered to take care of themselves and
their loved ones.
Many older people do
not stop having sex as they age. However, the awareness
of a variety of risks that unprotected sex may bring
among older persons tends to decrease. While the number
of younger people with HIV/AIDS has been decreasing,
older people’s numbers with HIV/AIDS are increasing. In
addition, older Americans often are among the most
overlooked by medical experts as well.
Report: US: Healthy Living- Achieve Journal (Fall 2009) The Achieve Journal, a
quarterly journal on HIV prevention, treatment, and
politics looked at the advancements in HIV treatment and
found that those with the virus are living long, healthy
lives. This fall 2009 issue focuses on growing older
with HIV- highlighting HIV prevention strategies, the
social stigma of being an older person with HIV,
research on aging with HIV, and stories from aging
people living with the virus. Using both
anecdotes and research, the articles addresses
issues surrounding HIV in the elder community, such as
having a healthy sex life, practicing safe sex, and
homosexuality. The authors conclude with helpful
recommendations to stay healthy.
(Article in Spanish) Beatriz Ramírez Amador, director of the
department of HIV/AIDS at the Health Institute in
Mexico, recognizes that Mexicans still discriminate
against people with HIV/AIDS, many of whom have been
abandoned by their families. The National Questionnaire
on Discrimination in Mexico establishes that older
persons with HIV/AIDS are among those facing the
greatest discrimination. Reports reveal that the labor
rights of people with HIV/AIDS are often violated as
well.
(Article in Spanish) The AIDS prevention
campaigns continue to consider younger people very prone
to becoming infected with sexually-transmitted HIV/AIDS.
However, Latin American experts now advocate for the
inclusion of older persons in this group. While many
reject the idea of sexual relationships in old age, some
older persons lead very active sexual lives without
knowing how to prevent HIV/AIDS. The number of older
Latin Americans with HIV/AIDS is on the rise. For
example, in Brazil, the number of women with AIDS
between the ages of 60 and 69 increased by 88%, and among women 70 years and
older the increase is 190%.
Bolivia: Cases of HIV/AIDS in Alto with the tendency to multiply (September 20, 2009) (Article in Spanish) The Regional
Epidemiology Service of Alto (Bolivia) announced that
between 2006 and 2008 the number of cases of HIV/AIDS
increased threefold. The majority of people affected by
HIV/AIDS are young people and older persons of 67 years
of age. One of the reasons for this great increase in
people affected by HIV/AIDS is the decrease in use of
methods for protection (condoms), due to either
prejudice or the culture of “manhood.”
US citizens enrolled in
the Medicare health insurance program will be able to
get screened for HIV under a government draft proposal
to pay for the tests. About 19% of US residents with
AIDS were 50 years old or older when they were
diagnosed. Screening tests could help them to detect the
infection sooner. Anyone would be able to get the test
even if they are not considered at risk. The Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) are now covering
more preventive medical services. This initiative aims
at preventing the spread of HIV/AIDs infection among
older persons.
Conversations about sex
are still taboo among older persons, putting older
adults’ health at risk. According to the Center for
Disease Control and Prevention, about 19% of all people
with HIV/AIDS in the US are age 50 and older. The
percentage could be higher since older people do not get
tested regularly because menopause makes pregnancy a
non-issue for sexually active older adults. However,
many fail to realize that, like any other population,
they are prone to STD exposure.
US: Dining Out for Life Event Thursday to Benefit HIV/AIDS Services in Grand Rapids (April 27, 2009) “Dining Out for Life”
is a one-day benefit launched 18 years ago by a
volunteer for Action AIDS in Philadelphia, where
restaurants donate a part of their proceeds to fighting
AIDS. The fastest emerging carriers are people ages 50 and older. They
account for about 10-15% of all people living with
HIV/AIDS in the US. The rates of HIV/AIDS among older
people are twelve times higher for blacks and five times
higher for Hispanics compared to whites.
Older people face
unique challenges as they struggle to contain the
disease while treating other health issues common among
middle-aged persons and seniors. Over time, side effects
from infections and treatment can mimic age-related
illnesses. In as few as six months, HIV medications can
cause metabolic disorders, including diabetes, lipid
changes, elevated blood pressure and cardiac disease.
Health care thus needs to reflect this extra support for
older persons with HIV/AIDS.
The number of people
over 50 years with the AIDS virus appears to be rising,
but public health campaigns remain largely focused on
the young. One reason for the increased incidence is
that older people are more likely to have unprotected
sex than younger people. A greater focus on the problem
will lead to earlier diagnoses. The global average life
expectancy after diagnosis is four years in those over
65 years, compared to 13 in people infected between the
ages of 5 and 14 years old, because of waning immunity
with age.
(Report also available in Spanish) While HIV and AIDS are
commonly discussed today, many people mistakenly think
that it is a disease that affects mostly young people.
However, HIV and AIDS can and do affect people of all
ages. This report specifically discusses how HIV and
AIDS impacts older people’s health and details how it
can be treated and prevented.
(Article in Russian) HIV prevalence among
women over age 50 has tripled for the past five years. A
Ministry of Health survey found that while 55.3% of
women over 50 are sexually active, only 28% of them use
condoms. The government prevention campaign will target
mature women and aims to promote safe sex. The slogan
for the campaign is “Sex has no age limits. Neither does
protection.”
Despite
the myth that older people do not have sex, many
midlife and older women are sexually active and some
are injecting drug users. In the United States, 70% of
women age 50 or older living with HIV/AIDS are African
American or Hispanic/Latina. All HIV/AIDS prevention
programs must create programs based on gender-, age-,
and culture-specific HIV prevention.
Report: US: Today's Research on Aging (December 2009) US government agencies
are now taking into account the increased population of
adults ages 50 and older with HIV/AIDS. In addition,
efforts to identify and fill research gaps on how HIV
and antiretroviral therapy affect aging are underway.
Mortality rates are higher for older adults with AIDSand
the survival time after diagnosis is shorter. To
sum up, older persons with HIV/AIDSare more vulnerable
than the younger generations.
(Report also available in Spanish and Arabic)
Researchers at the National Health Institute have
found that persons 50 years and older represent
between 11 and 15 percent of all cases of AIDS. The
number of cases of AIDS, which is reported every year,
continues to grow, presumably because people are
living longer. What accounts for this increase in AIDS
among older persons? Researchers explain that older
persons are sexually active; some consume drugs. In
both cases, they are do not protective themselves
against practices that transmit the virus. The writers
point out that the State must offer more adequate
services for older persons so that they can protect
themselves against the virus.
International
organizations on HIV/AIDS have only been focusing on
people of reproductive age for epidemiological
statistics. However, sexually transmitted diseases are
no respecters of age. A study suggests that 10% of
HIV-positive people in Chile are older adults; this is
not a very high figure, but it is gradually
increasing.
(Article in Spanish) Most HIV/AIDS
prevention campaigns tend to be directed toward the
adolescent population. However, older people need to be
aware of this disease and the consequences of unsafe sex
practices. Older men who receive Viagra should also
receive information on safe sex practices. Older women
are at high risk for contracting this virus because they
believe that because of their age there is no need for a
contraceptive.
Over the past year the
number of new HIV infections increased dramatically. The
senior population is particularly affected. In Florida
alone, approximately 11,899 people aged 50 years or
older have AIDS or are HIV positive. In fact, that age
group makes up 14% of all new cases over the past year.
One of the major reasons is a lack of sex education.
Moreover, most of the HIV awareness programs are focused
in places where there is a low ratio of older people.
The occurrence of HIV/AIDS among homosexual
and heterosexual seniors is on the rise, as new
medicine and technology extend the life expectancy of
those infected with the disease. The health
considerations of HIV/AIDS patients are further
compounded by aging, which often weakens the immune
system in multiple ways.
Myron Gold, 63,
remembers the day in 1993 when he was told he had six
months to live because he had been diagnosed with AIDS.
“When you said that in ’93, you emptied the whole
emergency room. Everyone ran for their lives.” Fifteen
years later, he is alive and an active advocate for
people with AIDS and for stronger prevention efforts.
Relying on his electric scooter to go to advocacy
meetings and speaking events, Gold is proud he has
outlived his initial diagnosis: “My work is what feeds
me now. Call me in 10 years, I'll still be here.”
(Article in Spanish) A few years ago, older
adults ages 60 to 70 were not part of the statistics of
people suffering from HIV/AIDS. However, medications
such as those marketed for impotence are one reason why
the number of cases has increased. The problem lies in
the fact that older adults don’t use a condom when
engaging in sexual intercourse and thus are prone to
catch the virus. Just as teenagers are educated about
the hazards of unsafe sex practices, now older adults
can receive information about this growing problem as
well as free medical care in some centers.
The older population
does not often think of safe sex in terms of HIV/AIDS or
STD prevention. Their “definition” is preventing
pregnancy only. Since they are past childbearing age,
use of a condom is seen as unnecessary. Unfortunately,
some older Floridians are learning too late.
The article reports on
rallies held as part of Canadian Grandparents Day used
to raise awareness of old people affected by HIV/AIDS in
Africa. There are 13 million orphans whose parents died
of AIDS in the sub-Sahara. Many households are led by
children and elderly people. The rally co-sponsors, Grands 'n' More, have helped to
raise over $4 million dollars for 15 sub-Saharan African
countries to help provide for those most in need.
"I nearly went crazy. I
even tried to commit suicide," said 71-year-old Lucia,
recounting the time when she discovered that she was HIV
positive. She got infected through her husband, just
like 75% of all infections with older women.
Unfortunately, for the elderly, being diagnosed with HIV
also brings emotional turmoil. Many men feel guilty for
infecting their wives and feel shame as the virus
exposes their extramarital affairs. "The worst thing is
the sadness that we have because we feel humiliated,”
said Lucia, who witnessed her husband die of AIDS.
The graying of the HIV
positive population creates new challenges to both
doctors and patients. Aging complicates the effects of
the disease and medication. Scientists are unaware of
the effects of antiretroviral drugs on older adults but
some observers say that these drugs seem less effective
in older adults. Likewise, AIDS treatments have the
potential to increase one’s risk to cardiovascular
diseases. Being infected with the virus also seems to
increase the risk of cancer, still yet unexplained. For
the aged, coping with HIV is more difficult than for the
younger population.
Researchers for AIDS
Community Research Initiative of America published this
report to educate older adults on HIV/AIDS prevention.
It points to the troubling practice—ageist
behavior---among health providers and health care
campaigns to fail to ask, or even consider, whether an
older adult patient is at risk for HIV. It includes
sections on how to protect oneself
and loved ones from HIV, how to learn one’s HIV status,
and how to stay informed and healthy whether one is
negative or positive. Older persons are equally
susceptible to HIV/AIDS as any other population group!
Report: US: HIV and Older Adults (Summer 2008) Advances in the
efficacy of anti-retroviral drugs and viral protein
inhibitors has greatly increased the life-expectancy of
HIV positive persons. The silvering of this stigmatized
population poses new challenges in preventing the spread
of the virus and providing adequate care and social
support. In this publication, the AIDS Community
Research Initiative of America (ACRIA) documents the
problems faced by older individual infected by the
virus. The booklet covers not only health-related
issues, but the problem of social stigma and long term
care as well.
If an 81-year-old lady
came to a hospital, no one would imagine that this woman
has HIV. But older persons contract HIV/AIDS through
sexual encounters. Look at Grady Hospital in Georgia:
between January and March 2008, some 38 patients learned
they had HIV/AIDS. Fifteen of these patients, nearly 40
percent, were over 50 years old. Older persons must
protect themselves with knowledge about their health and
any sexual partner.
Last weekend was the
23rd annual AIDS Walk in New York’s Central Park, which
raised a record $7 million, more money than any previous
U.S. AIDS walk. Both the number of people infected with
HIV/AIDS and the people working to combat it have increased. Global Action on
Aging has persistently worked to raise awareness about
the elderly’s vulnerability to the disease as well as
all other age groups.
Jamaica: Grandmas to the Rescue - Elderly Aid Jamaica's Pediatric HIV Treatment (May 12, 2008) When mothers die from
HIV in their 20’s in Jamaica, the burden of care for
young children usually falls on elderly female family
members. Meanwhile, high unemployment rates and low
wages make female heads of households more vulnerable to
economic hardships. Older women have to deal with
economic, medical and physical challenges as part of
taking care of their HIV-positive grandchildren.
Report: US: Research on Older Adults with HIV (May 5, 2008) The population of older
adults with HIV is expanding in New York City: 30% of
the almost 100,000 people living with HIV are over the
age of 50 and 70% are over the age of 40. Within the
next decade it is probable that the majority of people
with HIV in New York City will be over the age of 50.
The major reason for this trend is the unparalleled
success of highly active antiretroviral drugs (HAART)
that make it possible for people to live longer,
healthier lives. However, some experts demand that this
development be coupled with increased sophisticated
medical attention to adults who have more complex needs
as a result of being infected with HIV. They are calling
for doctors to test for the virus and for caregivers to
consider the impact of the co morbidities of aging,
increased isolation from social support networks, and
the negative impact of HIV stigma and ageism.
Report: US: The Over-50 Crowd Relearns the Facts of Life (April 1, 2008) HIV infection is a
growing fact of life for America's baby boomer
population. It is a reality that both the aging and
their caregivers are unprepared to address. The
perception among both the older population and providers
of health and social services is that seniors are not at
risk for sexually transmitted disease, and as a
consequence they have low awareness about the cause and
treatment of HIV.
It used to be that
HIV/AIDS was uncommon among the elderly because infected
individuals did not survive into old age without
effective treatment. However, with advancements in
HIV/AIDS research, antiretroviral drugs have been
developed to curb the symptoms of the infection, but not
without severe side effects. When taken in
combination—often called “cocktails”—the drugs have
allowed HIV patients to live longer, but the side
effects are causing some patients to show physical signs
of aging much sooner than normal. The onset of
depression, a common psychological effect of aging, is
also developing sooner in older HIV/AIDS patients. It
has been estimated that approximately a quarter of a
million persons currently living with HIV/AIDS are 50
years and older.
US: Aging Baby Boomers and Seniors are at Risk for HIV (January 15, 2008) Most HIV preventive
education has been aimed at the traditional high-risk
populations but must now include those over the age of
50. Older persons face an increasing risk for HIV as
antiretroviral treatment is becoming more effective and
people are living longer than previous generations. In
addition to sex education sessions and condom
distributions, experts in the prevention of the disease
are advocating for grandparent/child talks whereby kids
explain safe sex to their elders.
Report: US: Sexual Issues and Aging within the Context of Work with Older Adult Patients (2008) The
majority of older men and women maintain moderate or
high levels of sexual interest well into their 70s but
often experience sexual dysfunction. Many people lose
self-esteem or confidence and undergo depression due to
dissatisfaction in their sexual capacity. On the other
hand, many are reluctant to face or discuss the issue.
Furthermore, lack of knowledge and misinformation may
expose older people to high risk of HIV/AIDS infection
and other STDs.
US: Free Condoms, HIV Tests for NYC Elderly (July 25, 2007) “You’re giving out
condoms,” 82-year-old Rose Crescenzo
said with a wistful smile, “but who’s going to give us a
guy?” This is a characteristic quote about a topic
almost no one thinks about. That is the reason it is
called a silent epidemic. But, yes, older people also
have sex and must be educated about the risk of
HIV/AIDS. New York City has the highest number of
HIV-infected persons in the US; most are over 50 years
of age. That is why New York officials spend $1 million
educating older persons about these risks.
Older adults engaging
in unprotected sex risk infection with HIV. Researchers
at Ohio University surveyed over 200 HIV-positive older
adults and found that the mostly males who were in
relationships and used Viagra were infected. The
lifespan increase contributes to the increase in sexual
activity among older adults over the age of 50 years, a
growing proportion of whom
have and will become HIV/AIDS cases. Earlier studies
have shown that 65 percent of older adults over 60 years
old engage in sexual intercourse. Drug use and
unprotected sex, both risky behaviors, increase the
chance of HIV infection. Although many HIV-positive
older adults are no longer sexually active, 13 percent
remain active and should be the target of prevention
methods.
US: Changing Trends in HIV and AIDS in the Population Aged 50 and Older (2007) The
number of persons aged 50 and older who are diagnosed
with HIV/AIDS has been increasing. In addition to
longevity of life span, many older people are sexually
active. However, people in the older age groups are
often less knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS and sexually
transmitted diseases than younger people. Physicians
very often do not initiate discussions about sex with
older people .Consequently, it results in delay in
testing results and infected individuals start treatment
at later stages or not at all.
Report: US: AIDS Goes Gray (February 2004) HIV has been with us
for over two decades. Its survivors will live much
longer than that. Thousands have been kept alive long
past their expected death by a remarkable network of
AIDS service agencies and public health programs that
have linked them with the medication and support they
need to stay healthy.
Brazil: Elderly people are at risk to get HIV infection from sexual transmission: an epidemiological survey in the south of Brazil (based on AIDS 2006 - XVI International AIDS Conference) HIV/AIDS can be found
in nearly every country and among every age group. But
often researchers and the general public ignore older
persons, thinking that they have no sexual activity.
However, some Brazilian researchers interviewed a number
of older persons in the south of Brazil and found that
only 14 % of the people in the age of 60 – 87 years were
using condoms. They also had little knowledge of
HIV/AIDs transmission or signs of infection. Clearly,
older people need much more information about how to
protect themselves against
the HIV/AIDs infection.
Report: The Aging of HIV (April 2003) In the
US, between 11 and 15% of people infected by AIDS are
older people over 50. Older persons, especially people
of color, women and men having sex with men are
particularly at risk for HIV/AIDS. The proportion of
older people vulnerable to the infection suggests they
don’t receive appropriate information to protect
themselves. To remedy the situation, the National
Association of Social Workers implemented a policy on
HIV/AIDS to reach people usually left aside by
educational programs.
Return to Top of Page India: Old Age Home for Gays Comes up in Gujarat (September 24, 2011)
A special old age home was inaugurated
in the village of Hanmenteshwar, India. Named after
American writer Janet who funded the project, it is
now home to 50 elderly homosexuals. It was initiated
by Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil, also known as
“India's gay prince,” to help gay men infected with
HIV/AIDS and to develop preventive measures against
the virus. What a hopeful step towards the acceptance
of homosexuality and the attention given to older
people living with the disease.
China : China Finds (Another) HIV-Positive Septuagenarian (August 8, 2011) China’s HIV/AIDS
awareness is beginning to change as more new HIV cases
are emerging among those who are “sexually non-active”
populations. The Chinese Center for Disease
Control and Prevention reports that almost 15% of the
newly diagnosed HIV cases are found among those who are
over the age of 50 years. It is not so different in the
US; 24% of people living with HIV are ore 50 years old
or more. Do older persons protect themselves with
condoms, etc., if and when they are having sex with a
partner?
China: China Reports AIDS Mortality Is Cut by Two-Thirds (May 18, 2011) China
has cut down AIDS mortality by nearly two-thirds since
it began distributing free antiretroviral drugs in
2002, Chinese government scientists are reporting. The
incidence rate could be further reduced by fewer
sexual encounters among gay men, and an increase of
condom use by prostitutes.
People in China living
with HIV and AIDS are routinely being denied medical
treatment in mainstream hospitals due to fear and
ignorance about the disease, according to a study
released by the United Nations' International Labor
Organization (ILO).
Report: Nepal: WHI Sex-Selective Abortion in Nepal (February 4, 2011) It is reported
that illegal sex-selective procedures may contribute
to serious abortion complications. In addition to the
difficulty of determining which patients are seeking
abortion for reasons of sex selection, health workers
are aware women face great family and societal
pressure to bear sons. The pregnant women may seek
other unsafe alternatives elsewhere when they are
unable to obtain abortions in public hospitals.
The National
Association of People Living with HIV (NAPWA), predicts
that Australia will experience a relative increase in
its older HIV-positive population, an increase in the
number of new HIV infections, and a greater proportion
of people with HIV living outside major metropolitan
areas by 2020. Experts asserted Australia needs well
organized structures and training to be simplified for
people coming through in aged care or other services.
It is not uncommon for
grandmothers to take care of their grandchildren when
their parents are ill however, in the case of Kaew, she is the official
guardian of her two grandsons (Det
and Kla) ever since her
daughter died from AIDS 11 years ago. The burden of
caring for Kla, who was
passed the disease from his mother's womb, has lain
heavily on his 60-year-old grandmother. Income is low
and living conditions grow worse as the number of AIDS
is rising steadily in Thailand and the number of orphans
affected by AIDS like Kaew's
grandsons is staggering.
Researchers for this
report examine how older caregivers in Thailand are
dealing with HIV and AIDS. Increased access to
antiretroviral therapy among many people with lower and
middle incomes has transformed HIV/AIDS to a manageable
illness rather than a debilitating, degenerative
illness. The lives of older relatives who act as
caregivers for those who have HIV/AIDS has changed dramatically.
In Burma, officially
the Union of Myanmar, more than 18 percent of the people
living with HIV/AIDS are female sex workers. Aye Aye, 51 years old, is one of
them: she sells sex so that her 12-year-old son can
finish his education. However, it is no longer that easy
to get clients at her age; abuse
from clients and police harassment are everyday
features of her life. Moreover, because she has HIV, she
carries a condom in her bag; most of her clients refuse
to use any protection.
(Article in Chinese) Since 2007, the number
of senior HIV/AIDS cases increased by several hundred,
especially in the southern cities. Last year alone in
Guangzhou the number of senior (more than 50 years old)
HIV/AIDS cases was over 100. Until now, the case with
the highest age was 94. According to pathology research,
the possible cause of infection is sex, often with sex
workers.
As more aging men are
diagnosed with HIV and AIDS in China, doctors and health
officials are focusing on safe sex as prevention. Part
of the reason for the increase in diagnoses is that the
elderly are more likely to be tested for HIV as they are
more routinely tested for other illnesses and more
frequently visit the doctor. But older men also seek sex
outside of marriage and do not always use condoms. In
one study, 95% of the men interviewed--aged 17 to
80--replied that they had sex with a prostitute in the
last six months. These men, if infected with HIV, risk
passing the virus onto their girl friends and wives,
causing larger growth of the disease within the general
population. Low-end prostitutes often choose not to use
condoms, as they are likely to be paid more without
them. Chinese organizations are starting to hold
information sessions for prostitutes on the benefits of
safe sex, as well as sessions for elderly men.
China: Older People at Risk of HIV/AIDS (December 2, 2009) (Article in Chinese) December 1 was
the 22nd World AIDS Day. Guangzhou Province, one of the
richest coastal areas in China, announced that there was
a 1,449 case increase in HIV infection, a slight
increase from last year. The proportion of male
homosexuals and seniors is particularly high among
patients in this region. The government has called for
persons to avoid unprotected sex as well as drug usage.
China: Celebrating 22nd World AIDS Day (December 1, 2009) (Article in Chinese) With the rapid
increase of people living with the infection HIV/AIDS,
the central government and the general public in China
are giving it a great deal of attention. The majority of
people, on the other hand, lack information and
knowledge regarding the risks of HIV/AIDS. This article
discusses some of the current developments in China.
Papua New Guinea: HIV/AIDS Efforts in Papua New Guinea (April 7, 2009) About 2% of the
population in Papua, New Guinea,suffers
from HIV/AIDS and this number could rise to 10% by 2025.
At increasing rates, young women and older men are
affected by the disease. Papua New Guinea is one of the
hardest countries in which to launch a national HIV
response. It has 700 different languages, no national
transport, and few government services that operate
outside of the capital. Some people in the country
associate HIV/AIDS with sorcery and witchcraft, and
there have been reports of HIV positive people being
buried alive or thrown into rivers.
The New Scientist
recently reported that a drug extracted from a plant
used in Chinese medicine has helped immune cells fight
HIV. It furthermore raises the possibility of slowing
the ageing process in other parts of our bodies. The
method actively involves so-called telomeres, caps of
repetitive DNA placed at the ends of chromosomes.
However, the team of researchers at the University of
California in Los Angeles advised against uncontrolled
use of any herbal drug and said that they would not
advocate its use.
Despite the common
misconception that older persons have little to do with
HIV/AIDS, hundreds of seniors in Thailand lose their
children and grandchildren to the virus. Now older
people can share experiences and support each other by
joining the support group organized by Khun Janfong
Fumfoei, 71, whose son died
of HIV. Working on small handicraft projects, dancing,
singing, and educating young people about the symptoms,
causes and prevention of HIV/AIDS are among the group's
daily activities.
This is another article
focusing on older persons whose families are torn by the
HIV virus. Of the Vietnamese elderly with a HIV/AIDS
victim in the family, 82.65% have to care for between
one to three family members. Nguyen Thi Mai, 73 earns $1.5 a day
selling lottery tickets and she has to raise her
HIV-positive son. HelpAge
International, in collaboration with the Viet Nam
Women’s Union, works on helping the Viet Nam elderly
borrow money to pay off debts.
Community Mechanisms
for Mitigating the Impact of HIV/AIDS in Vietnam is a
project which aims to help improve the health and
livelihoods of older persons living with HIV/AIDS.
Implemented by HelpAge
International and the Viet Nam Women’s Union, the
project provides loans to the elderly as well as
training on how to earn money and repay these loans. The
help is essential since the burden on the infected older
persons is often tripled: not only do they have to take
care of themselves, but also they become primary
caregivers to their infected children and grandchildren.
This study examines what persons aged 60 and over in Cambodia know about HIV/AIDS in their country which has the highest HIV prevalence in Asia. It is clear that older aged parents commonly play a key role in the care of their adult sons and daughters living with AIDS. Their willingness to provide care to a family member increases with the level of correct knowledge about the infection. But how can older persons learn about AIDS? The study suggests that helping older persons own radios and televisions may help, especially if a media campaign follows that describes AIDS, its causes, and what can be done. Report: US: The Aging of HIV (April 2003) In the US, between 11
and 15% of people infected by AIDS are older people over
50. Older persons, especially people of color, women and
men having sex with men are particularly at risk for
HIV/AIDS. The proportion of older people vulnerable to
the infection suggests they don’t receive appropriate
information to protect themselves. To remedy the
situation, the National Association of Social Workers
implemented a policy on HIV/AIDS to reach people usually
left aside by educational programs.
Spain:
30% of People with AIDS Were 50 Years Old at the Time
of Diagnosis (May 11, 2011) United
Kingdom:
Elderly Flu Vaccine Uptake One of Lowest in Country
(September 18, 2010) United
Kingdom:
The British Elderly began Contracting AIDs more
Frequently (July 23, 2010) United
Kingdom:
Older People With HIV Face Multiple Disadvantages,
Study Finds (July 21, 2010) Germany: Transcatheter Valves Implanted
in Patients (June 16, 2010) France:
At
41 Years Old, I Feel That I Am Ageing (March 27 2010) France:
Need
to Identify HIV Positive Persons Not Aware of
Condition (October 21, 2009) United Kingdom: Sexual
Diseases Double in Eight Years among the Over-45’s
(June 30, 2008)
Algeria: 253 Cases of HIV/AIDS in Oran (July 21, 2008) (Article in French) Since the beginning of the year, the specialized services of the Oran hospital have counted 253 new cases of HIV/AIDS. These infections affect people of all ages and of different social and economic backgrounds. Old people are also victims of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. |
