HIV and Aging

HIV and Aging

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) potentially affects everyone. Itis a feared infectious disease. Prejudice and stigma attached to HIV are the main reasons why it is feared. Depression is common among HIV/AIDS patients. Older people are prone to depression because they lack a reliable network of friends and family who can help (Brooks et al., 2012). Older individuals also cope with diabetes, hypertension, and heart problems; adding up to depression. The old have horrifying experiences living with HIV. Sound policies are needed to address the issues associated with HIV and aging.

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Coordinated communication and awareness are salient policies that need immediate attention from policymakers. Medical providers should ensure proper communication channels so that older people with HIV can access medical assistance. Providing care and treatment becomes challenging whenthosehaving HIV have other chronic illnesses. Thus, policies must embrace the involvement of extended networksin offering point of care services to enhance health care quality. Loneliness inhibits progress among HIV victims, thereby calling for measures to curb such challenges.

A periodic screening policy must be implemented because it would address the opportunistic infections among the elderly with HIV. Older people with HIV risk contracting pneumonia and tuberculosis (Brooks et al., 2012). Healthcare policymakers, therefore, need to invest in advanced knowledge on regimen modification and age related co-morbidity issues. The relationship between other illnesses and the treatment of HIV has to be considered to allow for an integration of chronic diseases care systems with antiretroviral therapy.

References

Brooks, J. T., Buchacz, K., Gebo, K. A., &Mermin, J. (2012). HIV infection and older Americans: The public health perspective. American Journal of Public Health, 102(8), 1516-1526.