ANAC celebrates National HIV and Aging Awareness Day

National HIV and Aging Awareness Day

Yesterday was National HIV/AIDS Aging Awareness Day, dedicated to the estimated 600,000 people over the age of 50 who are aging, living and thriving with HIV in the U.S. Observed annually on Sept.18, it celebrates their resilience and contributions and acknowledges their contributions to progress in HIV treatment, while also highlighting the challenges they face, including complex health care, psychosocial and economic factors.

All year long, ANAC is dedicated to recognizing and supporting people aging with HIV and their providers. Through provider and community education, nurse-led care coordination and quality improvement, advocacy and policy efforts and innovative new models of provider and community engagement, we are committed to improving the quality of life for people aging with HIV.

ANAC’s efforts focus on three pillars:

A series of online/on-demand learning modules for providers that include HIV fundamentals, novice and advanced clinical and psychosocial didactic updates, care coordination, downloadable resources and first-person narratives from people living and aging with HIV.
Advocacy and policy efforts that include working in coalition on policies that benefit older PLWH, such as the Older American Act, and hosting educational forums, including a webinar series on Medicare and long term care that is free and available to all and participating in a podcast with American Society on Aging about educating the healthcare workforce to provide exemplary care for PLWH.
The HIV and Aging Scholar Program is based on an inter-professional cohort model to raise awareness. We support scholars across the country to implement projects in their local organization or community.

ANAC celebrates those living, aging and thriving with HIV while acknowledging the continued work needed to better meet their needs. Find out more about ANAC’s HIV and Aging efforts and resources available on our website.

Association of Nurses in AIDS Care | 800.260.6780 | anac@anacnet.org | nursesinaidscare.org