In France, the aging of people living with HIV creates new problems.
- In France, 50% of people living with HIV are now over 50 years old (compared to 8.5% in 1993), and 16% are over 60 years old.
- “Therapeutic advances have enabled increased longevity, but they have also created new challenges,” explains SIS Association in a press release.
- In 2022, between 4,200 and 5,700 people residing in France will discover their HIV status.
“The issue of aging among people living with HIV (PLHIV) has become a central issue in the fight against AIDS.” In a press release, SIDA INFO SERVICE draws attention to this emerging problem.
Aging well with HIV: more and more French people concerned
In France, 50% of people living with HIV are now over 50 years old (compared to 8.5% in 1993), and 16% are over 60 years old. “Therapeutic advances have enabled increased longevity, but they have also created new challenges. explain SIS Association.
“Some people living with HIV may, for example, be tired of the years that pass: all the treatments they have been taking for a very long time, the death of friends, family rejection due to serophobia or homophobia, no caregivers for help in daily life, non-existent or checkered careers…” the nonprofit organization sues.
“The first fragility encountered among PLHIV over the age of 50 is isolation, which has an impact on the overall condition of the person”she adds. “These people are also often in precarious financial situations,” she laments.
Aging well with HIV: what strategies should be put in place?
To remedy these new realities, SIDA INFO SERVICE offers several strategies:
– Better identify the potential psychological, social and economic vulnerabilities of people over 50 living with HIV.
– Train professionals who work with elderly people in the specificities of HIV.
– Recognize the importance of partnerships between health professionals, associations and patients.
– Among PLHIV over 70 years old, screen those who are losing physical autonomy and those who are developing cognitive disorders.
SIS Association also offers remote help on HIV/AIDS using free, anonymous and confidential services: a telephone line (0 800 840 800), a website (www.sida-info-service.org) and a LiveChat service (available from the website).
HIV still active in France
After a drop in screening activity in France due to the Covid period, the number of HIV serologies carried out by biology laboratories has now returned to a level higher than that of 2019. In 2022, between 4,200 and 5,700 people will discover their HIV status. 54% were heterosexuals, 41% men who have sex with men, 2% trans people and 1% injecting drug users.
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the pathogen that causes chronic infection progressing to AIDS in the absence of ARV treatment.
