Did you know that 46% of persons living with HIV are aged 50 and older? Improvements in treatment have helped many people with HIV live longer, healthier lives. In addition, new HIV infections continue to occur in older adults, many of whom may not realize they have the same HIV risk factors as younger people. As a result, older Americans are often at a more advanced stage of HIV when they are diagnosed. Routine HIV screening helps get older adults living with HIV into treatment, improving their health outcomes and reducing the potential for the virus to be transmitted to others.

On September 18, 2008, National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day was launched by The AIDS Institute in an effort to raise awareness due to the alarming increase in the number of older adults becoming infected with HIV as well as those older adults over 50 aging with HIV. The annual NHAAD theme is “Aging is a part of life; HIV doesn’t have to be!”

National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day is the perfect time to talk about getting tested for HIV and, for those living with HIV, getting and staying in care. Share the below resources to learn about and bring awareness to the aging-related challenges of HIV prevention, testing, care, and treatment.