In Canada, persons over the age of 50 have been experiencing increasing rates of HIV infection. The proportion of positive HIV test reports for people 50 and older has risen from 7.6% between 1985 and 1998 to a high of 13.8% in 2006.
(Source: HIV/AIDS Epi Updates, November 2007, Surveillance and Risk Assessment Division, Centre for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, Public Health Agency of Canada, 2007.)
People often think that just because a person is over 50 years old that they are no longer sexually active. We know from studies and speaking with people that this is certainly not the case. People have active and healthy sex lives well into their 60's, 70's, and 80's.
Older people may lose their partners and be entering the dating scene after many years. They may enter the scene with little or no knowledge of HIV/AIDS and other STI's. Many grew up in a time when HIV was unheard of, and there are few, if any, HIV prevention campaigns targeted towards older people.
Many seniors view condoms as a form of birth control. Because of their age, most no longer worry about pregnancy. This means they are often not practicing safer sex. As well, post-menopausal women are at greater risk of HIV infection through sexual activity due to thinning vaginal walls and reduced lubrication.
Symptoms such as dementia, lung problems, and unexplained weight loss may be attributed to the aging process instead of being investigated
as HIV related, and health care professionals may not consider HIV testing for people over 50.
The number of older persons living with HIV/AIDS is also increasing, due in part to more effective medications that are helping HIV+ people live longer.
For more information on HIV/AIDS and older persons,
check out our Briefing Documents.