Age Page from the National Institute on Aging: HIV, AIDS, and Older People.Grace was a happily married woman with a family and a career. After more than 20 years of marriage, her husband left her. After her divorce, she began dating George, a close family friend she had known for years. They became lovers. Because she was beyond childbearing years, she wasn't worried about getting pregnant and didn't think about using condoms. And because she had known George for years, it didn't occur to her to ask about his sexual history or if he had been tested for HIV HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus), either of two closely related retroviruses that invade T-helper lymphocytes and are responsible for AIDS. There are two types of HIV: HIV-1 and HIV-2. HIV-1 is responsible for the vast majority of AIDS in the United States. . At age 55 she had a routine medical checkup. Her blood tested positive for HIV. George had infected her. She will spend the rest of her life worrying that the virus would develop into life-threatening AIDS - that any cough, sneeze sneeze, involuntary violent expiration of air through the nose and mouth. It results from stimulation of the nervous system in the nose, causing sudden contraction of the muscles of expiration. , rash or flu would, in fact, indicate AIDS and perhaps the beginning of the end of her life. What Is HIV? AIDS? HIV (short for human immunodeficiency virus human immunodeficiency virus n. HIV. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) A transmissible retrovirus that causes AIDS in humans. ) is a virus that kills cells in your immune system immune system Cells, cell products, organs, and structures of the body involved in the detection and destruction of foreign invaders, such as bacteria, viruses, and cancer cells. Immunity is based on the system's ability to launch a defense against such invaders. , the system that fights diseases. Once your immune system is weakened to the point where you get certain types of life-threatening diseases, infections, and cancers, you have what is called AIDS or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, see AIDS. . AIDS is the most advanced stage of HIV infection. If there's any chance that you might be infected with HIV, you should be tested because now there are drugs you can take to help your body keep the HIV in check and fight against AIDS. Many people do not have any symptoms when they are first infected with HIV. It can take as little as a few weeks for minor flu-like symptoms to show up or as long as 10 years or more for more serious symptoms. Symptoms can include headache, chronic cough chronic cough, n health condition characterized by either a lingering cough or a recurring cough lasting more than a month. , diarrhea, swollen glands, lack of energy, loss of appetite loss of appetite Medtalk Anorexia, see there and weight loss, frequent fevers and sweats, frequent yeast infections, skin rashes, pelvic and abdominal cramps, sores on certain parts of your body, and short-term memory short-term memory n. Abbr. STM The phase of the memory process in which stimuli that have been recognized and registered are stored briefly. loss. People age 50 and older may not recognize HIV symptoms in themselves because they think what they are feeling and experiencing is part of normal aging. How Do People Get HIV/AIDS HIV/AIDS Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome ? ANYONE can get HIV and AIDS. Regardless of your age, and especially if you are 50 years old or older, you may be at risk for HIV if any of the following is true: * If you are sexually active and don't use a male latex condom. You can get HIV/AIDS from having sex with someone who is infected with the HIV virus. The virus passes from the infected person to another through the exchange of body fluids such as blood, semen, and vaginal fluid. HIV can get into your body during sex through any opening, such as a tear or cut in the lining of the vagina, vulva vulva /vul·va/ (vul´vah) [L.] the external genital organs of the female, including the mons pubis, labia majora and minora, clitoris, and vestibule of the vagina. , penis, rectum or mouth. * If you don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. your partner's sexual and drug history. Has your partner been tested for HIV/AIDS? Has he or she had a number of different sex partners? Does your partner inject drugs? * If you inject drugs and share needles or syringes with other people. Drug users are not the only people who might share needles. People with diabetes, for example, who inject insulin or draw blood to test glucose levels, might share needles. If you have shared needles for any reason or if you have had sex with someone who has, you should be tested for HIV/AIDS. * If you had a blood transfusion blood transfusion, transfer of blood from one person to another, or from one animal to another of the same species. Transfusions are performed to replace a substantial loss of blood and as supportive treatment in certain diseases and blood disorders. between 1978 and 1985, or a blood transfusion or operation in a developing country at any time. If any one of the above is true, you should be tested for HIV/AIDS. Check your local phone directory for the number of a hospital or health center where you can get a list of test sites. In most states the tests can be confidential (you give your name) or anonymous (you don't give your name). There are many myths about HIV/AIDS. The examples below are FACTS: * You cannot get HIV through casual contact such as shaking hands or hugging a person with HIV/AIDS. * You cannot get HIV from using a public telephone, drinking fountain, restroom, swimming pool, Jacuzzi, or hot tub. * You cannot get HIV from sharing a drink or being coughed or sneezed on by a person with HIV/AIDS. * You cannot get HIV from donating blood. * You cannot get HIV from a mosquito bite. Is HIV/AIDS Different in Older People? The number of older people with HIV/AIDS is on the rise. About 10% of all people diagnosed with AIDS in the United States - some 75,000 Americans - are age 50 and older. Because older people don't get tested for HIV/AIDS on a regular basis, there may be even more cases than we know. How has this happened? * Because older Americans know less about HIV/AIDS than younger age groups: how it is spread; the importance of using condoms and not sharing needles; the importance of getting tested; the importance of talking to their doctor. * Because health care workers and educators have neglected the middle age and older population in terms of HIV/AIDS education and prevention. * Because older people are less likely than younger people to talk about their sex lives or drug use with their doctors. * Because doctors don't tend to ask their older patients about sex or drug use. It is harder for doctors to recognize symptoms of HIV/AIDS in older people. Doctors need to talk to their patients about the specific behaviors that put them at risk for HIV/AIDS. Older people often mistake HIV/AIDS symptoms for the aches and pains of normal aging so, they are less likely than younger people to get tested for HIV/AIDS. They may be embarrassed, ashamed, and fearful of being tested for HIV/AIDS, a disease connected with having sex and injecting drugs. People age 50 and over may have had the virus for years before being tested. By the time they are diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, the virus may be in its most advanced stages. Older people diagnosed with HIV/AIDS do not live as long as younger people who have the virus. It is important to get tested early. The earlier you begin medical treatment, the better your chances for living longer. Many older people who have HIV/AIDS live in isolation because they are afraid to tell family and friends about their illness. They may have more severe depression than younger people. Older people are less likely to join support groups. Older people with HIV/AIDS need help coping both emotionally and physically with the disease. As the infection progresses, they will need help getting around and caring for themselves. Older people with AIDS The People With AIDS (PWA) Self-Empowerment Movement was a movement of those diagnosed with AIDS and grew out of San Francisco. The PWA Self-Empowerment Movement believes that those diagnosed as having AIDS should "take charge of their own life, illness, and care, and to minimize need support and understanding from their doctors, family, friends, and community. HIV/AIDS affects older people in yet another way. Many younger people with HIV/AIDS turn to their parents and grandparents for financial support and nursing care. Many older people have cared for their own children with HIV/AIDS and then for their orphaned and sometimes HIV-infected grandchildren. Taking care of others can be mentally, physically, and financially draining. This is particularly true for older caregivers. Taking care of someone with HIV/AIDS can be very stressful and hard. HIV/AIDS, People of Color Noun 1. people of color - a race with skin pigmentation different from the white race (especially Blacks) people of colour, colour, color race - people who are believed to belong to the same genetic stock; "some biologists doubt that there are important and Women Of all the people age 50 and over with AIDS, more than half (52%) are African American African American Multiculture A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa. See Race. and Hispanic. Of all men age 510 and over with AIDS, 49% are African American and Hispanic. Of all women age 50 and over with AIDS, 70% are African American and Hispanic. The number of HIV/AIDS cases continues to rise in communities of color. Educators, health care workers, and community leaders need to inform and warn people about HIV - the dangers of having sex without a condom, the dangers of injecting drugs and using infected needles, and the importance of getting tested. The number of older women with HIV/AIDS, regardless of race, is also on the rise. Over a recent 5- year period, the number of new AIDS cases in women age 50 and older increased by 40%. Two thirds of the women got the virus because they had sex with infected partners. Nearly one third of the women got HIV because they shared needles. There may be a connection between HIV/AIDS and women in menopause. For example, women who are no longer worried about getting pregnant may be less likely to use a condom and practice safe sex. Some menopausal women have vaginal dryness vaginal dryness Gynecology 1 Atrophic vaginitis, see there 2. ↓ vaginal lubrication or premature loss of same and thinning. This means they are more likely to have small tears and abrasions during sex. This can put women at greater risk for HIV. Because women may live longer than men and because of the rising rate of divorce, there are a large number of widowed, divorced, or separated women starting to date. Because many of these women do not understand how HIV/AIDS is spread, they may be at risk. Treatment and Prevention There is no cure for HIV/AIDS. Once you are infected, there are a number of medical treatments available to help keep the HIV virus in check and to help guard against AIDS. If there's any chance you might be infected, get tested. Early medical treatment is important, especially for middle aged and older people. Your doctor or medical provider can give you information about the kinds of treatments available. Doctors and medical providers should talk to patients about the risk of HIV/AIDS, get the patient's sex and drug histories, and encourage HIV testing if there is any chance that the patient has been infected. Remember, HIV/AIDS is all about behaviors. By practicing all the following behaviors, you can greatly reduce your risk of getting HIV/AIDS: * If you are having sex, make sure your partner is HIV negative. * Use male or female latex condoms (latex or polyurethane) during sex. * Do not share needles or any other drug use paraphernalia. * If you or your partner had a blood transfusion between 1978 and 1985 or an operation or blood transfusion in a developing country at any time, get tested. Resources Health agencies in most cities offer HIV testing. The following national organizations have information about HIV/AIDS: AARP AARP, a nonprofit, nonpartisan national organization dedicated to "enriching the experience of aging"; membership is open to people age 50 or older. Founded in 1958 by Ethel Percy Andrus as American Association of Retired Persons, AARP now has over 30 million 601 E Street, NW Washington, DC 20049 202-434-2260 http://www.aarp.org/griefandloss AARP has information on HIV/AIDS and its impact on mid-life and older adults. Ask about "It Can Happen to Me," a 28-minute videotape and discussion guide (available for loan or sale) for older adults or health care professionals. Center for AIDS Prevention Studies at the University of California, San Francisco 74 New Montgomery Street Suite 600 San Francisco, California “San Francisco” redirects here. For other uses, see San Francisco (disambiguation). The City and County of San Francisco (EN IPA: [sænfrənˈsɪskoʊ] 94105 415-597-9100 http://www.caps.ucsf.edu Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), agency of the U.S. Public Health Service since 1973, with headquarters in Atlanta; it was established in 1946 as the Communicable Disease Center. (CDC See Control Data, century date change and Back Orifice. CDC - Control Data Corporation ) National AIDS Hotline 1-800-342-AIDS 1-800-344-7432 for Spanish 1-800-243-7889 (TTY (TeleTYpewriter) See teletypewriter and TDD/TTY. (hardware) tty - /tit'ee/ (ITS pronunciation, but some Unix people say it this way as well; this pronunciation is not considered to have sexual undertones), /T T Y/ 1. teletypewriter. 2. ) http://www.ashastd.org/nah/nah.html hiv@ashastd.org The hotline operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It offers general information and referrals to resources in your area CDC National Prevention Information Network The Center for Disease Control National Prevention Information Network (CDC NPIN) is a source of information and materials for both international and American HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Sexually Transmitted Disease education and prevention organizations. PO Box 6003 Rockville, Maryland 20849 1-800-458-5231 1-800-243-7012 (TTY) info@cdc.npin.org The clearinghouse offers free government publications and information. National Association on HIV Over Fifty c/o Midwest AIDS Training and Education Center 808 S. Wood Street, MSC (1) (MSC.Software Corporation, Santa Ana, CA, www.mscsoftware.com) Founded in 1963 by Richard H. MacNeal and Robert G. Schwendler, MSC is the world's largest provider of mechanical computer aided engineering (MCAE) strategies, simulation software and services. 779 Chicago, Illinois 60612 312-996-1373 http://www.uic.edu/depts/matec/nahof.html National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID NIAID National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. ) Office of Communications Building 31, Room 7A32 Bethesda, Maryland 220892 http://www.niaid.nih.gov Part of the National Institutes of Health, the NIAID provides information about AIDS research and clinical trials. Senior Action in a Gay Environment (SAGE) 305 7th Avenue, 16th Floor New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of , New York 10001 212-741-2247 http://www.sageusa.org SAGE provides HIV/AIDS information and referrals for people age 50 and over. Social Security Administration Call your local office or: 1-800-SSA-1213 Social Security has disability benefit programs that provide financial assistance to eligible AIDS patients. For more information on health and aging, contact: National Institute on Aging The National Institute on Aging is a division of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, located in Bethesda, Maryland. Formed in 1974, NIA's mission is to improve the health and well-being of older Americans through research. It is the primary U.S. P.O. Box 8057 Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8057 800-222-2225 800-222-4225 (TTY) http://www.nih.gov/nia 1999 National Institute on Aging U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Noun 1. Department of Health and Human Services - the United States federal department that administers all federal programs dealing with health and welfare; created in 1979 Health and Human Services, HHS Public Health Service National Institutes of Health * Go to Top of Page * Go to ElderPage * Go to AoA Home Page * Go to AgePage Menu * Go to Quick Index * Go to Site Index Developed by the National Institute on Aging Hypertext conversion by Saadia Greenberg - -- last modified Friday, May 26, 2000 14:08:36 |
|
||||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion