This year on September 18th 2015, National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day is being recognized. The purpose of this day is to focus on the issues that the aging population is facing regarding HIV prevention, testing, treatment and care.
Currently in the United States there has been a growing population of people at the ages of 50 and older that are living with the HIV infection. In 2011, there were 1.2 million people (specifically ages 55 and older) that were living with the infection in the United States. (Source: www.cdc.gov)
It may be surprising news, but older Americans are more likely than younger Americans to be diagnosed with the HIV infection later in the course of their disease. This means that they are at a later start point for treatment which could lead to the possibility of more damage to the immune system. A poorer prognoses and shorter survival period are more likely to occur after the diagnosis. Older people can possibly mistake HIV symptoms as signs of normal aging and therefore rule out the infection as a cause.
Later diagnoses occur when health care providers do not test older people for HIV infection because of their age. Older patients are also less likely to speak to their physicians about sexual topics in their life.
At AFC of Bridgeport we provide care for anyone at any age. We can conduct HIV/AIDS testing on site with our state of the art full laboratory. There is no appointment needed and walk-ins are welcomed. Call us at 203-333-4400 to speak to one of our doctors with any questions or visit us at 161 Boston Avenue.
