The truth is that 11 percent of all new AIDS cases are now in people age 50 and over. And in the last few years, new AIDS cases rose faster in middle age and older people than in people under 40.

What is AIDS?
AIDS is a disease caused by a virus called HIV (short for human immunodeficiency virus). HIV attacks the body’s immune system. When the immune system is hurt, it can no longer fight diseases the way it used to.

People with HIV seem to be healthy at first. But after several years, they begin to get sick. Often they get serious infections or cancers. When this happens, they are diagnosed with AIDS. The most common cause of death in people with AIDS is a type of pneumonia called pneumocystis carinii pneumonia or PCP.

How Do People Get AIDS?
HIV is spread when body fluids, such as semen and blood, pass from a person who has the infection to another person. For the most part, the virus is spread by sexual contact or by sharing drug needles and syringes.

In older people, sexual activity is the most common cause of HIV infection. Second is blood transfusions received before 1985. Since 1985, blood banks have been testing all blood for HIV, so there is now little danger of getting HIV from transfusions.

Otherwise, HIV is not easy to catch. It is not spread by mosquito bites, using a public telephone or restroom, being coughed or sneezed on by an infected person, or touching someone with the disease.

Is AIDS Different in Older People?
The immune system normally gets weaker with age, but this decline is faster in older AIDS patients. They usually become sick and die sooner than younger patients.

It may be harder to recognize AIDS in older people. Early symptoms of AIDS--feeling tired, confused, having a loss of appetite, and swollen glands--are like other illnesses common in older people. Health professionals may assume these are signs of minor problems.

Prevention
Medical experts predict that a cure or vaccine to prevent AIDS will not be found in the near future. So stopping HIV depends on each person’s actions. You can prevent AIDS by thinking about the risk of infection before sexual contact. Use condoms if sexually involved with someone other than a mutually faithful, uninfected partner.

Treatment and Help
Treatment for AIDS usually involves medicine, such as AZT (azidothymidine). AZT does not cure AIDS but many patients use it to stay healthier longer. Other promising drugs are being tested. Doctors are also learning how to treat the diseases, like PCP, that strike people with AIDS.

People with HIV infection should stay in touch with a doctor who knows about the latest research. For help finding the name of an expert, call a local medical school’s department of infectious diseases or the National AIDS Hotline (1-800-342-AIDS).

Older AIDS patients often may not have anyone to take care of them. Help is available from local groups in some cases and from the Social Security Administration (1-800-SSA-1213).

Resources
In most cities, health agencies or centers offer HIV testing, counseling, and other services. In addition, the following national organizations offer information:

National AIDS Hotline
1-800-342-AIDS
1-800-344-SIDA for Spanish
1-800-AIDS-889 (TTY)

The hotline operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It offers general information and local referrals.

National AIDS Clearinghouse
P.O. Box 6003
Rockville, Maryland 20850
1-800-458-5231

The clearinghouse offers free government publications and information about resources.

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Office of Communications
Building 31, Room 7A32
Bethesda, MD 20892

One of the National Institutes of Health, the NIAID will respond to written requests for information on AIDS research and clinical trials of promising therapies.

Seniors in a Gay Environment (SAGE)
208 West 13th Street
New York, NY 10011
212-741-2247

SAGE provides HIV/AIDS information and referrals for people age 50 and over.

Social Security Administration
Contact local office or call:
1-800-SSA-1213

Social Security has two disability benefit programs that provide financial assistance to eligible AIDS patients.

American Association of Retired Persons (AARP)
Social Outreach and Support (SOS)
601 E Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20049
202-434-2260

The AARP/SOS program has information on HIV and AIDS and their impact on midlife and older adults.