HRSA Recognizes National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day

On September 18, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) recognized National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day (NHAAD). This day celebrated people with HIV living longer, healthier lives due to advances in treatment and raised awareness about the health and social needs of people aging with HIV.

Similar to the general population of older adults (people aged 50 years and older), people aging with HIV experience co-occurring conditions. However, older adults with HIV may have unique health needs and often experience social isolation, loneliness, lack of social support, and HIV- and age-related stigma, which may prevent them from seeking care and treatment to stay healthy.

For people aging with HIV, HRSA’s Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHAP) is an important resource and provides critical HIV care, treatment, and support services, such as housing assistance, transportation, meal delivery, and psychosocial support.

In 2021, more than 48 percent of RWHAP clients were aged 50 years and older, and 93.1 percent of RWHAP clients aged 50 year and older were virally suppressed. This means they cannot sexually transmit HIV to their partners and can live longer and healthier lives.

In HRSA’s RWHAP, we are committed to optimizing HIV care for people aging with HIV.

We recognize how important it is for health care team members to understand the needs of older adults with HIV. We have several reference guides to support health care professionals in providing care to people aging with HIV. In addition, we have:

• The new RWHAP Part F Special Projects of National Significance (SPNS) Program Aging with HIV InitiativeExit Disclaimer which provides strategies and interventions to improve the well-being of older adults with HIV;
• The RWHAP Part F AIDS Education and Training Center (AETC) Program that offers trainings on HIV in Older AdultsExit Disclaimer, and resourcesExit Disclaimer, including HIV & Aging: Thriving in the New NormalExit Disclaimer;
• The RWHAP Access, Care, and Engagement Technical Assistance (ACE TA) CenterExit Disclaimer that provides tools and resources to help health care professionals and people aging with HIV understand Medicare; and
• Additional trainings, tools, and resources available on TargetHIV.orgExit Disclaimer.  

We encourage you to view and share these resources.

Learn More

• If you or someone you know would like to get HIV care or other support services, we encourage you to use our Find a Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program Provider tool.
• Check out the U.S. Administration on Aging’s Eldercare Locator to connect services for older adults and their families.
• Sign up for the RWHAP listserv for news, updates, and education and training opportunities.