Seeking Solutions With Suzanne

According to the National Association on HIV Over 50 website, between 11 and 15% of U.S. AIDS cases occur in people over 50.
fastest-rise of HIV in our country is actually in over 50 women.
It can be difficult to determine rates of HIV infection among older adults, as very few persons over age 50 at risk for HIV routinely get tested.

The National Association on HIV Over 50 aims to, “…share information about HIV/AIDS and older adults with consumers (people living with HIV/AIDS over 50), caregivers, practitioners, researchers and advocates.”
This article from the AARP website focuses on the rise of the HIV virus in older Americans.
HIV and AIDS hotlines are available around the country. Click here for information on the numbers to call for information and testing in your state.

HIV Over 50

at 11:55AM, 1:55PM, and 3:55PM

Most educational ad campaigns about HIV and AIDS never show older adults, making them an invisible at-risk population. As a result, older people are generally less knowledgeable about HIV and AIDS than younger people, and less aware of how to protect themselves against sexually transmitted infections. In truth, between 11 and 15% of U.S. AIDS cases occur in people over 50. So, why is no one taking notice?

Even in 2005, many people are still under the assumption that HIV and AIDS are “gay diseases.” In fact, all of us are at risk—men, women, gay, straight, teenagers, and even children. The fastest-rise of HIV in our country is actually in over 50 women. Suzanne spoke with two men who are HIV positive and over 50, Jim Campbell and Tom Sentell.

Their Stories

Jim Campbell was in, what he thought, a monogamous relationship with his boyfriend. His significant other came down with pneumiscitic pneumonia, which is an opportunistic infection of HIV. Jim was diagnosed in 1992, and spent a lot of time laying in bed, feeling sorry for himself. The types of medications that are available today weren’t at that time, so he decided to do some research and join a support group. He found that everyone’s experience with the virus isn’t the same. Through his advocacy, he slowly but surely worked his way back into “real life” again.

Tom Sentell is a gay man that contracted HIV through sexual contact. He was diagnosed 10 days after his 60th birthday. He feels that after being well into the third decade of people being aware of HIV and AIDS, more research for a cure should be done. With 50-70 million people infected worldwide, he believes that policy makers should do more to address what is truly become an epidemic.

Exploding Myths

The fact is that HIV can be transmitted through bodily fluids, blood, semen, vaginal fluid and breast milk. Yet many people still believe that sharing a toilet seat or using the same utensils as someone that has the infection, will also put them at risk. This is simply not the case. Part of stopping the spread is education, and erasing the negative stigma that is associated with the HIV virus.

Jim and Tom both feel that there should be more preventative posters and advertising with seniors on them. Sadly, it is commonly assumed that seniors aren’t sexually active, when in fact, they are. Denying this fact is ageism.