The Canadian population is aging. Statistics Canada estimates that by 2030, 23% of Canadians will be seniors (age 65 and older), as compared to 15.3% in 2013. The number of people living and aging with HIV is also increasing. People living with HIV who have access to medication are living longer thanks to improved treatment options, and an increasing number of people are diagnosed with HIV later in life.
The intersection of HIV and aging is complex and synergistic, and involves such factors as the natural aging process, HIV infection itself, the treatment and management of HIV with medications, co-infections and co-morbidities, modifiable risk factors, and the social determinants of health.
The increasing number of people aging with HIV, and the complexity of aging with HIV, presents new challenges for care, treatment and support. Realize is working as a catalyst, bringing together the HIV sector and the aging sector to respond to these challenges. Our work seeks to:
- raise awareness and promote understanding of the needs, wishes and experiences of older adults living with or vulnerable to HIV, as informed by the perspectives of people living with HIV, researchers, educators, service-providers, and policy-makers;
- stimulate the creation and exchange of knowledge about aging with HIV;
- identify and promote potential partnerships, and;
- improve the lives of people aging with HIV by promoting the integration of rehabilitation into their care, treatment and support.
HIV and Aging Resources
Optimal Health and Wellbeing for People Living with HIV: The Role of Health Systems
In July 2021 Jeffery Lazarus et al. published the Consensus statement on the role of health systems in advancing
the long-term well-being of people living with HIV (“the statement”) in the journal Nature. The development of this
global statement involved participation from HIV experts from around the world, including two representatives from Canada. The statement culminated in six ‘key next steps’ to be taken by health systems to advance the long-term wellbeing of people living with HIV.
Realize, in collaboration with Gilead Sciences Canada Inc., and the National Community Advisory Group on
Optimal Health and Wellbeing (NCAG)*, coordinated six deliberative dialogues to determine whether the global
statement resonated with people living with HIV in Canada, and whether there are any modifications that should be made to ensure the ‘key next steps’ are relevant in the Canadian context.
This Report (Consensus Statement companion document) is the culmination of the deliberative dialogue process.
Situating the Preferences And Needs for Aging Care among HIV-positive Elderly people in Ontario within the UN Principles for Older Persons
PANACHE: Principles and Practicalities; Project Report, Realize August 2021
Preferences And Needs for Aging Care among HIV-positive Elderly people in Ontario (“PANACHE ON”) is a qualitative community-based participatory research (CBPR) study that conducted community consultations with people aging with HIV at nine community-based organizations in Ontario, Canada to ascertain their preferences and needs for aging care.
Sexuality and Sexual Health for Older People – Reference List
Realize launches a new set of resources on Sexuality and Sexual Health for Older People in October 2024. This document is the list of references related to these resources – further information for older adults and the people they work with in health care and beyond.