Because of effective HIV treatment, more people than ever before are living to older age with HIV. There are now over 14,000 people aged over 50 living with HIV in the UK, which is more than 20 per cent of everyone who is living with HIV.
But living longer can also mean coping with a range of additional problems and difficulties, from poor physical or emotional health, through to social isolation and a lack of savings.
We believe every person with HIV should have a voice. In 2010 we published groundbreaking research into what older people with HIV across the UK think and want.
This research, funded by the Joseph Rowntree Trust and done in conjunction with Age UK, is called 50 Plus and the full report is available online. A briefer Executive Summary covering the main points is also available.
50 Plus found that people with HIV who are aged 50 and over in the UK:
- Have twice as many other long-term conditions as their peers, as well as their HIV
- Are poorer, less economically active and less likely to have savings for old age.
- Are less likely to be homeowners.
- Are worried about their future social care, health care and financial safety.
- Are as likely to experience age discrimination as HIV discrimination.
We are now working to help older people with HIV and to ensure that things are different for future generations of people with HIV. A leaflet is available explaining what someone over 50 with HIV can do about the most common problems reported. It was written by people over 50 with HIV who were involved in the research. Download the leaflet now.
We are committed to further research supporting the needs of older people with HIV, including an international collaboration with ACRIA in the US.
The latest information on living into older age with HIV, including medical news, can be found on myHIV.