REDEFINING THE LATER YEARS: SUCCESSFUL AGING AMONG ETHNICALLY DIVERSE OLDER MEN LIVING WITH HIV

Abstract The overall purpose of this qualitative study was to examine barriers and facilitators of successful aging among older men living with HIV (OMLH). Participants were recruited through HIV Neurobehavioral Research Program at the University of California, San Diego. Our sample included 14 OMLH: average age - 62 years old (range: 53 to 72), 79% white, 43% living alone, 79% men who have sex with men, 57% having college education or higher. Semi-structured interviews lasted from 43 to 114 minutes and were fully transcribed. Several themes emerged related to perceived barriers to successful aging stemming from social institutions: i.e., age discrimination and ageism, sexual and HIV-related stigma, social isolation, lack of resources, and food insecurity. Perceived institutional solutions promoting successful aging included mixed-age/inter-generational support groups, computer literacy training, health education, information and resources related to healthy lifestyle on a limited budget, and increased transparency of resources available to older adults.

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Exploring Aging Masculinities From Different Disciplines and Perspectives

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.3014 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 825-825

Author(s):

Liat Ayalon ◽

Josep Armengol ◽

Michael Kimmel

Keyword(s):

Social Sciences ◽

American Literature ◽

Successful Aging ◽

Older Men ◽

Contemporary American Literature ◽

The Social ◽

Aging Men ◽

Personal Experiences ◽

And Gender ◽

Types Of Information

Abstract Traditionally, gerontology research has been relatively genderless. When the intersection of age and gender was explored, this was done primarily by focusing on the experiences of older women. Much less is known about the experiences of older men. The present symposium brings together work from the humanities and the social sciences in order to explore societal images and personal experiences of aging men. The paper by Maierhofer and Ratzenböck provides a theoretical outlook on this intersection from the humanities perspective, followed by empirical applications from the social sciences. Next, Armengol uses contemporary American literature to challenge the traditional stereotype of decline in sexuality and masculinity. The paper by Ni Leime & O’Neill examines stereotypes of aging masculinities, but this time from the perspective of older men as the audience who react to their portrayal in visual culture. Finally, Ayalon and Gweyrtz-Meydan present ethical dilemmas faced by physicians who treat older men’s sexuality in light of active marketing campaigns of the pharmaceutical industry, which advocate for a model of successful aging and ongoing sexual intercourse. The discussant, Kimmel, will conceptualize the four papers by stressing the different types of information that can be obtained via different methods of inquiry. The complementary information provided by the different papers and the integration of methods and findings from the humanities with the social sciences will be discussed.

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HIV MADE ME STRONGER: CONCEPTIONS OF SUCCESSFUL AGING AMONG OLDER WOMEN LIVING WITH HIV

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.2812 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S765-S765

Author(s):

Anna A Rubtsova ◽

Tonya Taylor ◽

Gina Wingood ◽

Igho Ofotokun ◽

Deborah Gustafson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Data Collection ◽

Qualitative Study ◽

Older Women ◽

Successful Aging ◽

Life Course Perspective ◽

Stable Phase ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Women Living With Hiv ◽

Living With Hiv

Abstract Little is known about successful aging (SA) among older (50+) women living with HIV (OWLH). Therefore, the purpose of this qualitative study was to examine subjective understandings of SA among OWLH. Participants were OWLH enrolled in the Women’s Interagency HIV Study (WIHS) and those not enrolled in WIHS: 8 in Atlanta, GA (3 WIHS and 5 non-WIHS) and 9 in Brooklyn, NY (6 WIHS and 3 non-WIHS). Semi-structured interviews ranged from 30 to 120 minutes. Several themes emerged in participants’ definitions of SA, e.g. self-care, taking HIV medications, and being resilient (“HIV made me stronger”). Both WIHS and non-WIHS participants emphasized life course perspective in their definitions of SA -- women viewed their aging successful as a more stable phase of life in contrast to hardships they experienced while being younger (e.g., drug use, incarceration). Data collection efforts are ongoing and will allow further characterization of SA among this population.

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The role of social support in the association between childhood trauma and depression among HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected individuals

International Journal of STD & AIDS ◽

10.1177/0956462418793736 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 30 (1) ◽

pp. 29-36 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Violeta J Rodriguez ◽

Stefani A Butts ◽

Lissa N Mandell ◽

Stephen M Weiss ◽

Mahendra Kumar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Social Support ◽

Hiv Infection ◽

Childhood Trauma ◽

Ethnically Diverse ◽

Sociodemographic Characteristics ◽

Physical Neglect ◽

Trauma Ct ◽

Living With Hiv ◽

The Impact

Childhood trauma (CT) – emotional, physical or sexual abuse, or emotional or physical neglect – has been associated with HIV infection and can lead to poor health outcomes and depression in adulthood. Though the impact of CT on depression may be decreased by social support, this may not be true of individuals living with HIV, due to the additive traumatic effects of both CT and acquisition of HIV. This study examined social support, depression, and CT among HIV-infected (n = 134) and HIV-uninfected (n = 306) men and women. Participants (N = 440) were assessed regarding sociodemographic characteristics, CT, depression, and social support. Participants were racially and ethnically diverse, 36 ± 9 years of age on average, and 44% had an income of less than USD$500 a month. Among HIV-uninfected individuals, social support explained the association between depression in persons with CT ( b = 0.082, bCI [0.044, 0.130]). Among HIV-infected individuals, after accounting for sociodemographic characteristics, social support did not explain the association between depression and CT due to lower levels of social support among HIV-infected individuals [95% CI: −0.006, 0.265]. The quality of social support may differ among HIV-infected persons due to decreased social support and smaller social networks among those living with HIV. Depressive symptoms among those living with HIV appear to be less influenced by social support, likely due to the additive effects of HIV infection combined with CT.

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THE PREVENTION NEEDS OF OLDER MEN LIVING WITH HIV

The Gerontologist ◽

10.1093/geront/gnw162.2118 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 56 (Suppl_3) ◽

pp. 523-523

Keyword(s):

Older Men ◽

Living With Hiv

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The Consistency of Definitions of Successful Aging Provided by Older Men: The Manitoba Follow-up Study

Canadian Journal on Aging / La Revue canadienne du vieillissement ◽

10.1017/s0714980809990225 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 28 (4) ◽

pp. 315-322 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Robert B. Tate ◽

Brenda L. Loewen ◽

Dennis J. Bayomi ◽

Barbara J. Payne

Keyword(s):

Successful Aging ◽

Older Men ◽

Personnes Âgées ◽

Follow Up Study ◽

Pour Cent

RÉSUMÉSans une définition universellement accepté du vieillissement réussi, chercheurs examiner plus en plus les vues profanes et définitions du vieillissement des personnes âgées. Pour utiliser les définitions non initiés dans les études de vieillissement, cependant, les chercheurs doivent aborder le cohérence de ces définitions. En 2004, les membres survivants de la cohorte mâle du Manitoba Suivi Study (âge moyen : 83 ans) ont été deux fois demandé leur définition du vieillissement réussi. Une échelle de cohérence a été définie, et une catégorie de cohérence a été attribuée sur la base de la similitude des thèmes dans chacune des 654 paires de définitions. Au moins la moitié des thèmes principaux étaient similaire dans 70 pour cent de la définition de paires; 80 pour cent des répondants ont répété au moins un thème. Événements de santé positive ou négative dans l’intervalle de quatre semaines entre les définitions et les caractéristiques spécifiques des répondants n’ont pas variés de catégories. Cette preuve de cohérence confirme notre dépendance continue des définitions du vieillissement réussi.

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HIV/AIDS in Later Life

Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Psychology ◽

10.1093/acrefore/9780190236557.013.430 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Philip Sayegh ◽

David J. Moore ◽

Pariya Fazeli Wheeler

Keyword(s):

Successful Aging ◽

Neuropsychiatric Symptoms ◽

Later Life ◽

Well Being ◽

The United States ◽

Neurocognitive Deficits ◽

Everyday Functioning ◽

Persons Living With Hiv ◽

Living With Hiv ◽

Hiv Aids

Since the first cluster of people with HIV was identified in 1981, significant biomedical advances, most notably the development of antiretroviral therapy (ART), have led to considerably increased life expectancy as well as a reduction in the morbidity and mortality associated with HIV/AIDS. As a result, HIV/AIDS is no longer considered a terminal illness, but rather a chronic illness, and many persons living with HIV/AIDS are beginning to enter or have already reached later life. In fact, Americans ages 50 years and older comprise approximately half of all individuals with HIV/AIDS and represent the most rapidly growing subpopulation of persons living with HIV/AIDS in the United States. Despite significant advances in HIV/AIDS treatment and prognosis, older adults living with HIV (OALH) face a number of unique challenges and circumstances that can lead to exacerbated symptoms and poorer outcomes, despite demonstrating generally better ART adherence than their younger counterparts. These detrimental outcomes are due to both chronological aging and cohort effects as well as social and behavioral factors and long-term ART use. For instance, neurocognitive deficits and neuropsychiatric symptoms, including depression, anxiety, apathy, and fatigue, are often observed among OALH, which can result in feelings of loneliness, social isolation, and reduced social support. Taken together, these factors can lead to elevated levels of problems with everyday functioning (e.g., activities of daily living) among OALH. In addition, sociocultural factors such as race/ethnicity, ageism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, geographic region, socioeconomic status and financial well-being, systemic barriers and disparities, and cultural values and beliefs play an influential role in determining outcomes. Notwithstanding the challenges associated with living with HIV/AIDS in later life, many persons living with HIV/AIDS are aging successfully. HIV/AIDS survivor and community mobilization efforts, as well as integrated care models, have resulted in some significant improvements in overall HIV/AIDS patient care. In addition, interventions aimed at improving successful aging outcomes among OALH are being developed in an attempt to effectively reduce the psychological and physical morbidity associated with HIV disease.

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Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Mitigation Strategies of Cognitive Deficits in Aging with HIV: Implications for Practice and Research

ISRN Nursing ◽

10.1155/2013/297173 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 ◽

pp. 1-21 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

David E. Vance

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Deficits ◽

Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy ◽

Successful Aging ◽

Mitigation Strategies ◽

Medical Decision ◽

Everyday Functioning ◽

Highly Active ◽

Living With Hiv ◽

Speed Of Processing Training

Highly active antiretroviral therapy has given the chance to those living with HIV to keep on living, allowing them the opportunity to age and perhaps age successfully. Yet, there are severe challenges to successful aging with HIV, one of which is cognitive deficits. Nearly half of those with HIV experience cognitive deficits that can interfere with everyday functioning, medical decision making, and quality of life. Given that cognitive deficits develop with more frequency and intensity with increasing age, concerns mount that as people age with HIV, they may experience more severe cognitive deficits. These concerns become especially germane given that by 2015, 50% of those with HIV will be 50 and older, and this older cohort of adults is expected to grow. As such, this paper focuses on the etiologies of such cognitive deficits within the context of cognitive reserve and neuroplasticity. From this, evidence-based and hypothetical prevention (i.e., cognitive prescriptions), rehabilitation (i.e., speed of processing training), and mitigation (i.e., spaced retrieval method) strategies are reviewed. Implications for nursing practice and research are posited.

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