HIV and Aging - Resources

The AIDS Institute (AI) is committed to prioritizing People Aging with HIV (PAWH) as this population continues to grow. All AI program activities will maximize their efforts around HIV/Aging through communication and coordination internally and with the community.

  • The New York State HIV Quality of Care Program - Created in 1992, the New York Department of Health AIDS Institute's Quality of Care Program is responsible for systematically monitoring the quality of medical care and support services provided to people living with HIV in New York State and for guiding care to achieve intended health outcomes. Several of their projects, driven by providers and consumer input, have put HIV and Aging at the forefront of their important work.
  • Aging and Long-term Survivors Screening Pilot - In a statewide pilot in 2023-2024, 13 New York State sites used a modified World Health Organizations Integrated care for older people approach (ICOPE) tool to screen for cognitive decline, hearing loss, malnutrition, vision impairment, depressive symptoms, and falls.
  • The New York State HIV Quality of Care Program-Treatment Cascades - In 2025 frailty is being piloted as an additional indicator submitted by organizations that provide medical care to people living with HIV in New York State who participate in this project.
  • Five Things You Want Your Provider to Know About Being a Lifetime Survivor - As recommended by the Consumer Advisory Committee and created in a joint effort, this document is recommended for all lifetime survivors of HIV when interacting with their health care professional.
  • Quality of Care - Social Connection Toolkit - A statewide advancing positive social connection collaborative that is offered for healthcare staff and consumers. Quality improvement tools and methods are used to foster peer learning and co-production of social connection activities. Providers and clients come together to discuss challenges and opportunities and to share what is working and what is needed. As part of the collaborative, some HIV health and supportive service providers engage in a group quality improvement project using the UCLA Loneliness Scale to identify clients with a high loneliness score and link them to services.
  • Quality of Care - Brain and Heart Health Toolkit (TBD) - The AIDS Institute Quality Advisory Committee and Consumer Advisory Committee along with the Quality of Care Program, have worked together to create a quality improvement toolkit to support the development and implementation of quality improvement projects aimed at improving both heart and brain health. Since data suggest that there is an interrelationship between heart and brain health, working to improve one may well have a positive impact on the other. The toolkit includes links to guidelines, standards of care and recommendations relating to heart and brain health, as well as examples of quality improvement activities that can be implemented to evaluate the quality of services provided.
  • AIDS Institute - Capacity Builder for the Special Project of National Significance (SPNS) on HIV and Aging - The SPNS Initiative, Emerging Interventions to Improve Health Outcomes for People Aging with HIV (SPNS Aging with Initiative) implements emerging interventions that comprehensively screen and manage comorbidities, geriatric conditions, behavioral health, and psychosocial needs of people 50 years and older with HIV.
    SPNS Aging with HIV Initiative Goals
    1. Implementing emerging interventions that screen and manage comorbidities, geriatric
    2. conditions, behavioral health, and psychosocial needs of people with HIV ages 50 and older.
    3. Assessing the uptake and integration of emerging interventions.
    4. Evaluating the impact of the emerging interventions.

As the population of people aging with HIV continues to grow, the AIDS Institute is partnering with various state agencies, in particular the New York State Office for Aging, to forge collaborations between HIV providers and Aging providers. General resources can be found at these websites:

This is a sampling of various websites with HIV and Aging resources. Websites often change or are updated. We recommend that consumers and providers search "HIV and Aging" in reputable search engines for updated information.

Health Insurance navigation can be complicated for individuals aging with HIV. Many of the People Aging with HIV providers offer benefits counseling/navigation around Medicare and health insurance related issues. Other resources include:

  • About the AIDS Institute - Community Support Services - The AIDS Institute's Bureau of Community Support Services "Benefits Counseling Initiative".
  • NYS EPIC Program (PDF)
  • EPIC Member Information - A New York State program for seniors administered by the Department of Health. It helps more than 325,000 income-eligible seniors aged 65 and older to supplement their out-of-pocket Medicare Part D drug plan costs.
  • Medicare Savings Program - A Federal program that helps pay for: Part A premiums, Part B premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments (for services and items Medicare covers).
  • Health Insurance Information Counseling and Assistance Program (HIICAP) | Office for the Aging (ny.gov) – Help applying for Medicare - The Health Insurance Information Counseling and Assistance Program (HIICAP) is a free service offered by the New York State Office for the Aging. It provides confidential counseling, information, and assistance to help solve medical coverage problems for Medicare beneficiaries, their representatives, or persons soon-to-be eligible for Medicare. HIICAP works directly with Medicare beneficiaries to educate them about the Medicare Program, Medigap policies, Medicaid, Medicare Advantage Plans, Long-term Care Insurance, Low-Income Subsidy Programs, employer-sponsored insurance, and other health insurance programs that are available in New York State. You can reach out to HIICAP counselors through a toll-free helpline at 1-800-701-0501, or by contacting your local Office for the Aging.
  • Uninsured Care Programs - The Uninsured Care Programs provide access to free health care (Medications, Outpatient Primary Care, Home Care, Insurance Premium Payments, and Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis to prevent HIV infection) for New York State residents who are uninsured or underinsured. The Uninsured Care Programs are committed to working closely with providers and individuals to support access to the wide range of options for payment for health care services and medications for persons living with or at risk of acquiring HIV/AIDS.
  • Medicaid - New York's Medicaid program provides comprehensive health coverage to more than 7.3 million lower-income New Yorkers (as of December, 2021.) Medicaid pays for a wide-range of services depending on your age, financial circumstances, family situation, or living arrangements. These services are provided through a large network of health care providers that you can access directly using your Medicaid card or through your managed care plan if you are enrolled in managed care. Some services may have small co-payments, which can be waived if you cannot afford them.
  • How to save money on New York City transit fares
  • LIRR and Metro-North fares (mta.info) - Reduced fares for both NYC metro cards and LIRR tickets if you are over 65
  • Public Transit Automated Reimbursement (emedny.org) - Medical transportation reimbursement system in NYC for qualifying providers.