Adapting Systems of Care for People Aging With HIV

People aging with HIV have medical and psychosocial needs that require more than the HIV services network can provide. HIV providers may lack experience managing multimorbidity or the functional consequences of aging. Social support services may be unable to provide necessary services for people living with HIV (PLWH) who are becoming increasingly frail or facing cognitive impairment. HIV providers will be caring for aging PLWH whose HIV management may seem simple compared with the significant burdens of stigma, mental health needs, social isolation, multimorbidity, and aging-related syndromes. Although practices can incorporate geriatric expertise and develop facility with the aging services network, a more comprehensive integration would adapt existing geriatric long-term care models for those aging with HIV. The diversity of aging PLWH and the tenuousness of the health safety net will necessitate innovative and flexible collaboration between content experts and social service agencies.