Hour 7 - HIV and Ageing - World AIDS Day Worldwide
Channel: JOY TV
Date: 24/12/2013

The invention of combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) has meant that those diagnosed with HIV today have the potential to lead full and productive lives. These drugs have saved many lives and some individuals have been living with HIV for 25 years or more since their diagnosis. The emerging issue is that many of those people are now considering their aged-care needs and the aged-care sector is having to consider how to accommodate their specific requirements.

Host Daniel Gardner opens with Dr Karalyn McDonald, who discusses Phase 1 of her recent research focusing on Victorians over the age of 45 years who are living with HIV. The research aims to establish the needs of HIV-positive people and the services they will require as they get older.

Joining the conversation is Paul Mathewson, who owns a local business that provides in-home services to the elderly. He is fully aware of the ageing HIV-positive population and reveals why his business must evolve to fulfil the emerging demand, which is partly because of the current lack of residential-care facilities in Victoria.

Our guests highlight the need for training in the aged-care sector to ensure services can correctly accommodate the individual needs of clients.

Sebastian Aristos from Living Positive Victoria's Positive Speakers Bureau delivers his perspective as someone living with HIV, discussing the need for greater societal understanding and awareness of HIV. He says that recent funding from the federal government for a project called 'Emerging Voices', which will train aged-care workers, is a much-needed addition to the sector.