10/12/2016
At the recent at the U.S. Conference on AIDS (USCA) in Hollywood, Florida I ask Dr. Amy Lansky, Director, Office of National AIDS Policy for The White House a question. Why the recently updated, National HIV/AIDS Strategy why there was no mention of the intersection of Aging and HIV, considering that as of last year (2015) 50 percent of people living with HIV in the US are age 50 or older. And by 2020 that percentage would rise to 70%.
She ducked the question and asked me what I would do. I told her that that, for one thing, I would give equivalent resources to programs and campaigns for older adults as they do to youth-targeted campaigns. I would convey that Treatment as Prevention (TasP), or a UNDETECTABLE viral load was prevention on par to PrEP. I would strengthen social security and understand that many, especially those living with HIV for decades, are living in extreme poverty.
I'd institute programs targeting older adults in both prevention and treatment understanding that Aging was drastically different for people living decades with HIV than for those newly infected. I told her that nuances mattered to our care and well-being.
I gave her my card, but she already knew who I was and what I do. Here is her recent post on AIDS.gov about that session:
"During a session at the U.S. Conference on AIDS, I was asked about how the National HIV/AIDS Strategy applies to older persons. Both the National HIV/AIDS Strategy and Federal Action Plan highlight the need for HIV education across the age spectrum. In addition to education, routine testing for those aged 15 to 65 years, as recommended by USPSTF Exit Disclaimer, should be fully implemented; screening after age 65 years is indicated if there is ongoing risk for HIV infection (e.g., new s*x partners). And the HHS Office on Women’s Health is conducting a systematic review of the literature to develop strategies for improving the lives of women aged 40 and above living with HIV/AIDS.
With an increasing number of people with HIV living longer, providers must be able to meet their patients’ health care needs related to HIV as well as aging. The Federal Action Plan includes a commitment by NIH to support ongoing studies to inform outcomes along the continuum of care, including health and service needs for older Americans. As a growing segment of the population of persons living with HIV, it is important that we address the unique challenges for HIV prevention and care for persons aged 50 and older."
https://blog.aids.gov/2016/09/recognizing-hiv-and-aging-in-america.html
She quotes old stats in her short piece. I am wondering out loud if Dr. Lansky is the person to head up the Office of AIDS? And what is it going to take for her to listen to those of who are growing old with HIV?
Older people represent a growing share of the HIV population. By 2015, it’s estimated that nearly half of all people living with HIV in the US were over the age of 50.
The number of older people newly diagnosed with AIDS is increasing. There are three types of older people with HIV: people who have been living with HIV for many years; older HIV-infected people who are just learning their HIV status; and older people newly infected with HIV.
