In some ways, the daily lives of aging and older people living with HIV are similar to the lives of other older adults. There is a need to manage concurrent health conditions, cope with isolation and loneliness, and take stock of who will provide support if independence wanes.
But normal aging-related issues can be more complex for people living with HIV. It is common for HIV-positive people to live with a greater number of physical, mental, or cognitive comorbidities across the lifespan, as compared to their HIV-negative counterparts. Financial insecurity resulting from poor financial advice, precarious engagement in work, and HIV-related stigma, can limit access to housing, food and support and increase isolation. Uncertainty regarding health changes, the long-term impacts of treatment, and the process of navigating services and supports for ‘seniors’ abounds.
Realize is committed to ensuring that aging and older people living with HIV are supported. Some of our activities include:
- Educating health care and service providers about the needs and experiences of aging and older people living with HIV
- Sharing up-to-date research findings on topics related to HIV, aging and older adulthood
- Taking action to address health inequities faced by aging and older people living with HIV
The PANACHE Ontario Project: 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.
Aging with HIV Resources
Helping Clients with Financial Questions – A Starter Guide for CBHOs in Ontario
As a community support person, you may encounter clients who experience financial challenges. Common challenges include accessing income support programs, retirement transitions, and stretching limited funds.
The following information was developed following conversations with community-based HIV organizations (CBHOs) as part of the Financial Empowerment for Healthy Aging with HIV project, an OHTN-funded research study, to understand:
• The financial challenges and needs of older people living with HIV in Ontario
• The information, resources, services, and supports that can facilitate greater financial empowerment
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.
Your Finances & You – A Guide for Older People Living with HIV
Financial challenges are common and can feel confusing, especially when navigating income support programs, retirement transitions, or managing limited resources. You are not alone, and help is available.
This guide is a support for older people living with HIV in Ontario, Canada, to access financial information and resources. It was developed from consultations with Community-Based HIV Organizations (CBHOs) for the Financial Empowerment for Healthy Aging with HIV study. It builds on the experiences of people living with HIV in the PANACHE Ontario study to understand:
- The financial difficulties and needs of older people living with HIV in Ontario
- The information, resources, services, and supports that can facilitate greater financial empowerment.