AAALI: Aging in the Best Health Possible

NHCOA is one of three national Hispanic/Latino partners of the CDC’s Act Against AIDS Leadership Initiative (AAALI), a multi-year national communication initiative to reduce the incidence of HIV/AIDS among diverse communities. To learn how you can get involved in the fight against HIV, please join www.actagainstaids.org .

As we age, our immune systems become weaker making older adults more susceptible to certain illnesses and diseases. This is why it is extremely important for seniors to keep their vaccines up-to-date, as well as engage in healthy living at all levels, including sexual health.

Because many older adults still have active sex lives, they should take the same precautions and prevention methods that are recommended for any sexually active person, from using condoms to getting HIV tested. This is particularly important for older adults as HIV can further complicate any illness, and the progression from HIV to AIDS occurs quicker among seniors.

Therefore, it is important for older adults to be aware of how they can best protect themselves from HIV, as well as for families, caregivers, and health care providers to create an open space to address this issue.

As part of the CDC’s Act Against AIDS Leadership Initiative, NHCOA is fostering an environment for Hispanic older adults, their families, and caregivers to eliminate the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS and take positive steps toward reducing the disparate rates of HIV infections within the community.

You can help older adults age in the best possible health by acting against AIDS today!