September 18 marks the second annual National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day. The day is designed to highlight challenges such as the need for prevention, research, data, and medical understanding of the aging process and the impact of HIV/AIDS. There are various groups of older Americans affected by HIV.
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These include:
- the growing number of people living with HIV/AIDS who are aging with the disease or are already over 50 at the time of diagnosis;
- the increasing percentage of Americans that needs to protect themselves from HIV infection, including the aging baby boomer population; and
- the increasing numbers of grandparents becoming the primary custodial parent for children who have lost their parent(s) to HIV/AIDS.