The number of people over age 50 who have HIV/AIDS is growing, and at a rate faster than the overall American epidemic. With today’s improved disease management tools, more people who were infected during their 30s or 40s are living to see their 50s and 60s. Among new infections, about 10% have always been – and continue to be – among folks past age 50: Getting older doesn’t necessarily mean ending risk activities!
What are the special impacts on people in this age range? How do they cope with having what’s generally perceived as a young person’s disease? One of the country’s leading experts will be presenting on this generally over-looked population next week: Jane Fowler will give a free luncheon talk on Thursday, Dec. 16. Jane is herself an HIV-positive woman over 50 who is significantly responsible for whatever attention this largely ignored group receives. She’s been featured on 20/20, Oprah, Prime Time, and NCB Nightly News; and in Good Housekeeping, POZ, Modern Maturity, and the professional Journal of AIDS.
The program will be at Kleberg Hall behind St. George’s Episcopal Church, 4301 N. I-35 (just southeast of Airport & I-35), beginning at 11am. Thanks to the generous sponsorship of drug manufacturer Glaxo, free lunch will be provided and a drawing will be held for gift certificate door prizes.
The Women Rising Project, a multifaceted collaborative program for HIV-infected women, is putting on the event. For more information about Jane Fowler’s talk or about Women Rising, call 406-6150.
This article appears in December 10 • 2004.