Monday, December 5, 2016
1:00 - 2:30 pm ET
via HIV/AIDS and Mental Health Training Resource Center
For the first time, many service providers are encountering older generations of clients living with HIV/AIDS. This includes more seniors who are newly diagnosed, and also those with years or decades of experience managing their HIV and required medical treatment. The confluence of trauma; grief and loss; stigma and non-inclusion; social isolation, discrimination, co-morbidities of normal aging; and managing the side-effects of complex medications can leave the aging population vulnerable to poor mental health outcomes on multiple levels.
In particular, women with HIV face unique gender- and age-related problems including earlier onset menopause, increased risk of certain cancers, a higher burden of caring-giving responsibilities, difficulty obtaining medical care and treatment, and dealing with additional social stigma. Women living with HIV/AIDS experience a disproportionate burden of mental health issues including anxiety and depression, histories of trauma and abuse, post-traumatic stress and substance misuse. This often results in decreased engagement and retention in care and reduced adherence to ART treatments.
With more people living with HIV into their senior years, there is both an urgency and opportunity to shape how mental and substance use disorder treatment services are delivered to older adults. Psychologists, social workers, psychiatrists, substance abuse counselors, and other front-line providers have a major role to play in the delivery of these services.
This webinar will highlight the experiences of women over 50 living with HIV, discuss the clinical implications and workforce gaps, and review a new toolkit aimed at training providers to recognize and address the specific needs of this population.
Learning Objectives
At the end of this webinar, participants will:
- Describe the social and clinical characteristics present among older women living with HIV.
- Explore the stories of women aging with HIV, told directly by women about their experiences and what they need from mental health care providers.
- Discuss with a mental health care provider, the opportunities and barriers to providing culturally competent and appropriate care for older adults living with HIV, and particularly women with HIV.
- Review the HIV and Mental Health Training Resource Center’s “HIV and Aging Toolkit” and demonstrate how to navigate through the toolkit’s written content, videos, and external resources.
