September 18 - National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day 2019
September 18 marks National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day, a time to examine the challenges faced by older adults around HIV.
Sangeeta Jain
Sep 16, 2019
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Every year, National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day is observed on September 18. This particular day is to call attention to the growing number of people living long and full lives with HIV disease and to aging-related challenges of HIV prevention, testing, treatment, and care.
Individuals with HIV are living longer gratitude to treatment with HIV medications. As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2015, an estimated 47% of individuals in the United States with diagnosed HIV were aged 50 and older. People aging with HIV can confront treatment-related difficulties; for example, drug interactions between HIV drugs and medications utilized for other health-related conditions.
There are additionally HIV prevention challenges identified with aging. For instance, despite the fact that HIV risk variables are comparable for all grown-ups, older adults might be less aware of these elements and the significance of testing to diagnose HIV in its earliest stages. CDC reports that 35% of individuals aged 55 and older who got an HIV diagnosis in 2016 already had AIDS.
In addition, there is an increased requirement for avoidance, research, and information focusing on the maturing populace, medical understanding of the aging process and its effect on HIV/AIDS.
The campaign targets:
- People living with HIV (PLWH) who are aging with the ailment or effectively more than 50 at the time of their initial diagnosis,
- Increasing the use of protection from HIV infection, particularly among the baby boomer population, and
- The increasing number of grandparents becoming an essential guardians for children who have lost their parent(s) to HIV/AIDS.
In an endeavor to persistently swelling awareness about HIV disease and its symptoms among the aging populace, organizations and community members are welcomed to create, execute and take an interest in awareness activities and other related events on or around September 18th.
Past examples of activities and ways organizations and individuals can become involved:
- Host a free HIV screening event
- Encourage and promote HIV testing among older adults
- Provide HIV prevention and education messages to older adults
- Provide resources for linkage to treatment and care for HIV infected older adults
- Organize health fairs that focus on HIV/AIDS and healthcare in older adults
- Encourage older adults to practice safer methods to prevent HIV and other Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD’s)
- Conduct events at senior community centers or nursing home facilities
- Talk to an older adult in your family about getting tested
- Engage leaders in the faith community to participate in local, regional, or national events on or around NHAAD
- Highlight how your programs can incorporate HIV education for older adults
Raise Awareness About HIV/AIDS and Aging
- Educate older people about the importance of preventing risky behaviors using age-sensitive information and education.
- Fight stigma.
- Deliver effective prevention and evidence-based interventions for antiretroviral adherence therapy for older Americans.
- Encourage physicians to screen patients of all ages for HIV infections.
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