National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day

Today, September 18, is National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day (NHAAD). This observance brings attention to the growing number of older adults living with and impacted by HIV, as well as the unique challenges they face in prevention, care, and treatment. 

In the U.S., nearly half of people living with HIV are age 50 or older. While this reflects major advances in treatment and care, older adults living with HIV experience higher rates of comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cognitive decline. They are also more likely to encounter stigma related to both HIV and aging, which can increase isolation and make it harder to access the health and social services they need. 

Older adults are often overlooked in HIV prevention efforts. Many providers may not view older people as at risk for HIV, leading to missed opportunities for testing, prevention, and linkage to care. At the same time, older adults living with HIV often navigate fragmented systems of care, where primary care, HIV care, and aging services are not fully integrated. 

NASTAD is committed to advancing health equity and supporting the aging population of people living with HIV. As part of this commitment, NASTAD’s Syndemic Approaches team presented at the U.S. Conference on HIV/AIDS (USCHA) on coalition-building for communities aging with HIV. Their session, Amplifying Public Health Infrastructure: Coalition-Building for Communities Aging with HIV, highlighted the importance of building partnerships between health departments, community-based organizations, and aging services to close gaps in care. Key issues raised included the lack of a consistent definition of “aging with HIV,” exclusion caused by “status neutral” language, limited collaboration with State Departments of Aging, and the social isolation and depression experienced by many older adults with HIV. The session also shared insights from NASTAD’s 2023–2024 Chair’s Challenge and national consultation on populations aging with HIV. 

This NHAAD, NASTAD recognizes the resilience of older adults living with HIV and reaffirms our commitment to supporting policies, programs, and partnerships that promote healthy aging. Ending the HIV epidemic requires centering all people living with HIV with compassion, dignity, and equity.