Through the generous support of GILEAD Sciences, AIDS United Public Affairs and Policy Division is excited to continue its critical policy and advocacy agenda to address the needs of older adults living with HIV.
AIDS United’s HIV and Aging Project aims to advance federal and state advocacy, educate executive and legislative decision-makers, and implement policies that meet the needs and improve the quality of life for older adults living with HIV. Additionally, the project aims to engage the community and empower people living with HIV (PLWH), particularly older adults, collaboratively through the work of the HIV & Aging Policy Advocacy Coalition (HAPAC).
“With Gilead’s support of $400,000, AIDS United and HAPAC will continue to advocate for policies that support the growing population of older adults living with HIV,” said Jesse Milan Jr., President and CEO of AIDS United. “By 2030, the CDC expects that individuals aged 50 and older will account for 70% of all people living with HIV in the U.S. The funding provided by Gilead will ensure that the coalition can impact policy to address major concerns for older adults living with HIV, such as food and housing insecurity, social isolation, and comorbidities associated with aging.”
Gilead’s ongoing support through this year-long grant will ensure that our policy priorities for older adults living with HIV are met and that AIDS United can continue to drive efforts to create positive change within the Older Americans Act, Medicare, and state agencies on aging. “Transitioning to Medicare is especially challenging for people with HIV. Choosing plans and coverage to ensure we can afford our medications and access the best medical care is essential for our health,” added Milan.
HAPAC was formed to ensure that policymakers understand the intersectionality between aging and HIV and the needs of older adults living with HIV and long-term HIV survivors. HAPAC collaborates with a network of organizations, including SAGE and AARP, to advance this agenda, which includes advocating for specific funding in the Fiscal Year 2024 federal budget and promoting a long-term care bill of rights for older adults living with HIV, LGBTQ+, or intersex individuals.
For the year ahead, building and sustaining a cohort of advocates for HIV and aging-related issues emphasizes that cross-generational collaboration is vital to the strategy’s feasibility. Pedro Zamora Public Policy Fellow Sophia Obregon has provided essential administrative support to HAPAC as they work to ensure that older adults living with HIV are classified as a population of “greatest social need” through the reauthorization of the Older Americans Act.
This classification would significantly increase access to resources and care for this growing cohort within the HIV community.
“HAPAC is poised and ready to support the growing population of older adults living with HIV,” says Sophia Obregon. “Through this renewed opportunity, we will continue to ensure that federal and state policy reflects the needs of this population.”
HAPAC is committed to advocating for the inclusion of older adults living with HIV in individual state plans on aging as part of a comprehensive approach to addressing the HIV epidemic.
