According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), of the estimated 1.1 million people with HIV in the United States in 2018, approximately 400,000 were aged 55 and older. In 2018, this population also accounted for 17% new HIV diagnoses.
The data suggest that age not a protective factor for acquiring HIV. More than ever, the older adult population should be aware and educated about the risks, prevention, and testing available for HIV.
It’s important to highlight that some behaviors can put everyone, regardless of age, at risk for HIV, such as having unprotected sexual intercourse, or sharing needles, syringes, etc., to inject drugs with someone who is HIV positive.
Older adults have many of the risk factors for HIV that are common among younger populations, including a lack of knowledge about HIV prevention and risk, having multiple sex partners, not using protection during a sexual intercourse, among others.
Moreover, older adults may feel more stigma and anxiety when speaking about their sexual behaviors or illicit drug use with their primary care doctors. There is a misconception in our society that once a person reaches a certain age, they are no longer sexually active. This fallacy results in many physicians failing to discuss sexual behaviors and risks with their older adults’ patients, leaving older adults unaware about the continued risks of HIV. Many older adults think that because of their age, they are no longer at risk for contracting HIV.
How can people limit their risks for contracting HIV?
There are many ways to prevent or limit the spread of HIV. Some of those ways include practicing abstinence (not having sex), limiting the number of sexual partners one engages with, never sharing needles (look for a needle exchange location in your area https://nasen.org/map/), use condoms every time you have sex, and if you are very active with multiple partners, speak to your physician about PrEP.
Get Tested!
The only way to know your HIV status is to get tested. Knowing your HIV status is important because it helps you make healthy decisions to either prevent getting it or transmitting HIV if you already have it. Each year, on June 27th, we observe National HIV Testing Day (NHTD), which is focused on the power of knowing your risk, your testing options, your prevention and treatment options.
We encourage everyone to know the different options to get tested for HIV: (Please note, it is very important to talk to your health care providers about the type of HIV test that is right for you)
- Clinical Testing: There are three types of tests available: nucleic acid tests (NAT), antigen/antibody tests, and antibody tests. HIV tests are typically performed on blood, oral fluid or urine. This test is done in a clinical setting, like at your doctor’s office.
- Mail-in Test Kits: These are specimen collection kits that contains supplies to collect dried blood from a finger stick at home. The sample is then sent to a laboratory for testing and the results are provided by a health care provider.
- Rapid Self-Test Kits: Given the COVID-19 pandemic, people may prefer to get tested in their homes. The rapid self-test kit can produce the results within 20 minutes. You can buy a rapid self-test kit at a pharmacy or online.
For more information about where you can get tested visit cdc.gov/hiv/basics/hiv-testing/finding-tests.html or call at 1-800-232-4636. Know your status!
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Remember: Together, we can end HIV!
