14th International AIDS Conference


Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

DonateNow
Print this article

Aging and HIV: building international coalitions, knowledge and commitment.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. A10045)

Campbell JP
National Association on HIV Over Fifty, Kansas City, United States

ISSUES: Reviewing possible conference topics I felt forgotten, HIV+ and over fifty, heading a national organization, where did I fit? As the pandemic has spread we have focused on currently identified risk populations, missing some infected and affected. Issues of race, class, gender, xenophobia...has ageism been ignored? We must bring the reality of HIV into the larger aging community. Policy challenges include issues of aging, medication, finance, and stigma of HIV. These topics effect older people who are HIV positive, people at risk for infection and individuals providing care for dependent adult children or their offspring. Currently national and international networks of HIV and Aging organizations are not communicating. We will benefit from organizations traditionally outside the HIV community with their histories of research, political expertise and experience, and power. Discription: Education through experience, PWA, service providers to the elderly, and families identify risk and develop new skills, continuing to learn and discover. Coalitions with all stakeholders helps to conceptualize problems, identify with and finds solutions and adds HIV to the aging health care agenda. Building on issues we have in common, we can find support across philosophical views to achieve a common goal. Prevention and education are by-products of cooperation. Coalitions of traditional HIV, disability and aging networks, provides community awareness.

RESULTS: Partnerships built between International Aging Organizations, NGO's, governments, and faith communities. Media dispels myths and redefines problems, allowing non-HIV communities to identify with stakeholders at the table, bringing knowledge and commitment to action.

RECOMENDATIONS: Think outside the HIV box, Normalize testing, Develop simple financial plans to alleviate burdens on caregivers, Include age as a diversity issue, Take advantage of the largest aging populations in world history.

Keywords: AEGIS, HIV Infections, Knowledge, HIV Seropositivity, Social Support, Goals, Family, Social Environment, Adult, ChildKWDaegis,hivinfections,knowledge,hivseropositivity,socialsupport,goals,family,socialenvironment,adult,child

020707
A10045

Copyright © 2002 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.