New York State Department of Health Celebrates National HIV/Aids and Aging Awareness Day

New York State Department of Health's AIDS Institute Fosters Statewide Collaborative Efforts to Prioritize Services to Promote the Health and Well-Being of Adults 50+ Living with HIV

New York State Department of Health Remains Committed to Ending the Epidemic

ALBANY, N.Y. (September 18, 2024) – The New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute within the Office of Health Equity and Human Rights proudly joins the nation today in honoring the growing number of people living long and full lives with HIV on National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day.

"Over the decades, major advances in health care treatment have transformed HIV from a deadly disease for many to a manageable chronic illness for most. Of the over 104,000 New Yorkers living with diagnosed HIV in 2022, 57 percent were age 50 or older," State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said. "Today we pause to highlight the number of people living long and full lives with HIV. There is still work to be done as we face new infections among older adults and challenges for those over age 50 living with HIV, however today, we celebrate the courage and determination of all those who are aging with HIV/AIDS."

In New York State, nearly 1 out of 5 people newly diagnosed with HIV in 2022 were over the age of 50. In addition to the medical, social and emotional needs of the aging population, prevention efforts across the state continue to be a priority.

The New York State Department of Health AIDS Institute and the New York State Office for Aging collaborate on a number of strategies for the aging community including encouraging conversations with their medical providers about sexual health, potential risks and preventative interventions such as PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis). A higher percentage of women are being diagnosed with HIV after age 50 and HIV diagnoses continues to disproportionately impact people of color as 47 percent of diagnoses are among Black/African American and 23 percent of diagnoses are among Hispanic/Latino individuals.

The AIDS Institute continues to study and disseminate information on the epidemiology of aging among people living with HIV highlighting needs and areas for public health action. An Epidemiological Profile of Persons with Diagnosed HIV Aged 50 Years and Older in New York State, 2012-2021 was published in JAIDS Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes (lww.com).

New York State strategies include the People Aging with HIV (PAWH) pilot where ten statewide sites provide comprehensive health related supportive services to people aging with HIV. Services include psychosocial support to address higher than average rates of loneliness and isolation and screening and referral for age-related conditions.

The AIDS Institute has collaborated with the New York State Office for the Aging and the local NY Connects programs in each region to enhance coordination and referral between long term care and HIV providers. The New York State Office for the Aging's long-standing NY Connects program is administered locally by the Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) and Independent Living Centers (ILCs), in partnership with each county local departments of social services. NY Connects is a locally based No Wrong Door system that provides one stop access to free information and assistance on long-term services and supports (LTSS). This partnership with the New York State Office for the Aging and the local NY Connects in each county broadens the scope of support to access services to meet the identified needs of older adults living with HIV/AIDS and their caregivers.

The unique collaborative effort between the AIDS Institute and the New York State Office for the Aging, in addition to the AIDS Institutes' role as the Capacity Builder for the National SPNS Project, Emerging Strategies to Improve Health Outcomes for People Aging with HIV, has positioned New York State as a leader and innovator and is being recognized nationally.

Information and resources for New Yorkers living and aging with HIV/AIDS can be found in these documents:

More information and resources can be found on these websites:

  • Home - National Resource Center on Aging & HIV (aginghiv.org)
  • Aging / Older (50+) | TargetHIV

    • Eligible New Yorkers can receive free HIV self-testing kits through the mail. Tests are also available at low or no cost in many healthcare settings across the state. Find a nearby site by visiting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Test Site Locator. 

    For more information on New York State Department of Health's AIDS Institute, visit the website here.