Factors That Impact Successful Aging Among Older Adults Living with HIV/AIDS

Chair(s)

• 

  Erin Robinson, MPH, MSW, PhD

  Assistant Professor
  School of Social Work
  University of Missouri
  Columbia, Missouri, United States

Co-Chair(s)

• 

  Molly Perkins, PhD, FGSA

  Associate Professor
  Department of Medicine
  Emory University School of Medicine
  Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Discussant(s)

• 

  Alexis Bender, PhD

  Assistant Professor of Medicine
  Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Department of Medicine
  Emory University
  Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Individual Symposium Abstract First Author(s)

• 

  Monique Brown, PhD, MPH

  Assistant Professor
  Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
  University of South Carolina
  Columbia, South Carolina, United States
• 

  Anna Rubtsova, PhD

  Assistant Research Professor
  Behavioral, Social, and Health Education Sciences
  Emory University
  Atlanta, Georgia, United States
• 

  Monica Maly, MPH

  Graduate Student
  Community and Behavioral Health
  Colorado School of Public Health
  Aurora, Colorado, United States
• 

  Jasmine Manalel, PhD

  Senior Research Associate
  Brookdale Center for Healthy Aging
  Hunter College
  New York, New York, United States

The past two decades have brought significant medical advances in antiretroviral therapies (ART) for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). This has enabled PLWHA to live longer and healthier lives than ever before. In fact, nearly half of all PLWHA in the United States are age 50+ and HIV is treated as a chronic disease, instead of a terminal illness. Despite these advancements older adults living with HIV/AIDS (OALWHA) are still a highly stigmatized population who faces challenges with their health and overall well-being. This symposium will highlight recent research on factors that play a role in successful aging among OALWHA. Our first presentation leverages a quantitative dataset of OALWHA and examines the relationship between childhood sexual abuse and ART adherence, with a particular focus on substance abuse as a potential mediator. Our second presentation features a qualitative study with OALWHA that explores their conceptions of successful aging. Our third presentation includes a sample of medical case managers who serve OALWHA and examines the feasibility of using a cognitive screening tool with this population. Cognitive screening with OALWHA can help provide early indicators of cognitive decline and initiate early intervention. Finally, our fourth presentation includes a sample of older women living with HIV/AIDS and examines their support needs and resources, particularly to help understand their complex caregiving needs. Findings from these four studies advance our understanding of OALWHA and their needs to ensure continued successful aging. This symposium informs further research and direct practice with this population.

Presentations:

• 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM ET

  Childhood Sexual Trauma, Substance Use, and ART Adherence Among Older Adults Living with HIV
  

  Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Monique J. Brown, PhD, MPH – University of South Carolina
• 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM ET

  Conceptions of Successful Aging Among Older Men and Women Living with HIV
  

  Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Anna Rubtsova, PhD – Emory University
• 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM ET

  Determining Feasibility for Use of Geriatric Cognitive Screenings by Medical Case Managers Serving Older (50+) PLWH
  

  Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Monica Maly, MPH – Colorado School of Public Health
• 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM ET

  Support needs and resources of older woman living with HIV
  

  Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Jasmine Manalel, PhD – Hunter College