September 18 is National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day (NHAAD), dedicated to raising awareness about long-term HIV survivors and people living with HIV who are ages 50 and older. Due to biomedical improvements in HIV treatment, people living with HIV (PLWH) can achieve and maintain viral suppression and live long and healthy lives.
NHAAD is a crucial opportunity to recognize the unique challenges that older people living with HIV and those at-risk face in accessing HIV testing, care, and treatment. Advancements in HIV treatments have lowered the likelihood of AIDS-defining illnesses among those living with HIV, but HIV-associated conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, renal disease, and cancer can persist in older individuals living with HIV. In addition, greater social isolation, loneliness, and stigma can impact the health and well-being of older individuals living with HIV.
In 2022, people aged 55 and up accounted for 42% of people living with HIV in the U.S. – with those 55-64 comprising more of the population living with HIV than any other age group (27%). Despite high prevalence rates, only 19% of individuals 65 and older had tested for HIV at least once in their lifetime in 2022. This is likely due to lack of awareness or stigma, which can affect quality of life, self-image, and behaviors such as HIV status disclosure or seeking HIV care.
People aged 55 to 64 accounted for 8% of the 37,966 new HIV diagnoses in 2022. According to a 2024 CDC report, 33% of people aged 55 to 64 in the U.S. who received a new HIV diagnosis in 2022 already had late-stage HIV infection (AIDS) when they were diagnosed, indicating a need for routinized HIV screening in this population.
In 2022, people living with HIV between the ages of 55 and 64 had the highest rates (83%) of being linked to HIV care. 82% of PLWH above the age of 65 were linked to HIV care. 77% of PLWH between the ages of 55 and 64 received HIV care, and 68% of PLWH in this same age group achieved or maintained viral suppression in 2022.
Join AIDSVu in recognizing this awareness day with the materials below.
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AIDSVu’s infographics encourage new ways of visualizing the HIV epidemic among aging communities. Share them on social, print them out as one-pagers, and add them to your presentations.
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Share these social media posts and infographics on LinkedIn, X, and Facebook with #NHAAD to help spark conversations about HIV and aging.
Post 1
#DYK? In 2022, people aged 55 and up accounted for 42% of people living with HIV in the U.S. On #NHAAD AIDSVu is drawing attention to the unique challenges faced by older individuals living with #HIV. Learn more: https://aidsvu.org/national-hiv-aids-and-aging-awareness-day-toolkit-2024/
Post 2
September 18 is #NationalHIVandAgingAwarenessDay, dedicated to raising awareness about people ages 55 and older living with #HIV. This #NHAAD, AIDSVu is highlighting the advancements in HIV care and treatment that contribute to the lives of long-term HIV survivors and older individuals living with HIV. Read more: https://aidsvu.org/national-hiv-aids-and-aging-awareness-day-toolkit-2024/
Post 3
Individuals above 55 who are living with #HIV experience unique challenges, including greater social isolation, loneliness, and stigma, that can detrimentally impact their well-being.
This #NationalHIVandAgingAwarenessDay, check out AIDSVu’s new Deeper Look: HIV and Aging to learn more: https://aidsvu.org/national-hiv-aids-and-aging-awareness-day-toolkit-2024/
Post 4
People aged 55 to 64 accounted for 8% of the 37,966 new HIV diagnoses in 2022, and 33% of newly diagnosed individuals already had late-stage infections when diagnosed.
On #NationalHIVandAgingAwarenessDay, AIDSVu is recognizing both the long-term survivors and individuals more recently diagnosed with #HIV. Read More: https://aidsvu.org/national-hiv-aids-and-aging-awareness-day-toolkit-2024/ #NHAAD