National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day.
National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day is September 18
Worldwide, an estimated 3.6 million people aged 50+ are living with HIV.
The prevalence of HIV among older adults is reaching staggering rates. About 1 in 4 adults in the United States who are living with HIV infection are aged 50 or older. 18% of new HIV diagnoses occur among those aged 50 and older.
With advanced treatment options, HIV positive individuals are living longer lives. However, the interactions between aging and degeneration caused by HIV have become a public health concern that needs to generate appropriate awareness and education.
Efforts to expand HIV prevention messages for older adults should also include information and resources about linking newly diagnosed individuals to care while also advocating to ensure these individuals have appropriate access to care and treatment.
With your help, we can work to create awareness in our local communities!
>>> Find out what you can do to get involved.
The AIDS Institute and AIDS Alliance for Women, Infants, Children, Youth and Families produced a video to address HIV stigma among older women for National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day.
From HIV.gov
National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day (NHAAD) is recognized annually on September 18 to bring attention to the growing number of people living long and full lives with HIV. The awareness day also calls attention to the unique health and social needs and the challenges of HIV prevention, testing, treatment, and care in older adults.
NHAAD is an important opportunity to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS and aging and to educate older adults about the importance of HIV screening, which gives individuals the information they need to either access HIV prevention services, such as PrEP, or be linked to care and treatment services to improve health outcomes.
