About Ribbon Organizing Center for HIV and Aging (ROC4Aging+)
ROC4Aging+ is a national technical assistance provider of Gilead Sciences, Inc., an HIV Age Positively initiative. We develop and offer education, training and resources to 23 national, regional and local organizations. These organizations provide program- and policy-related initiatives designed to improve the health and quality of life of persons aging with HIV. Our work supports national HIV and aging priorities,complementing programs, enhancing provider capacity, and offering expertise along the HIV and aging continuum.
Our Mission
To improve the health and quality of life of persons aging with HIV through the provision of high-quality, tailored and forward-thinking professional education, training and opportunities.
Our Pillars
Through the establishment of ongoing technical assistance, ROC4Aging+ supports community-driven conversations and solutions to reduce disparities and improve the health and quality of life of people, aged 50 and older, who are living with HIV.
ROC4Aging+ exists to:
- Serve as a national thought leader in the identification of emerging trends, unmet needs and opportunities for the HIV and aging population.
- Facilitate collaboration, connectivity and meaningful involvement amongst persons aging with HIV in policy,advocacy efforts and in the development of evidence-informed programming.
- Employ a community-based and collaborative approach to create opportunities that involve our partners in the development and evaluation of a comprehensive roadmap for the future of HIV and aging.
- Facilitate strategic partnerships to galvanize communities and advance national policies that support programs and services that improve the health and quality of life of persons aging with HIV.
The Need
The early 1980s marked the beginning of the HIV epidemic in the United States. Over 30 years later, HIV remains a serious public health challenge. There are 35,000 new HIV diagnoses each year, and more than 1.2 million people living with HIV. Of these numbers, people aged 50 and older comprise 17 percent of new HIV diagnoses and more than 70 percent of persons with HIV.
HIV and aging is a complex and challenging field. It requires ongoing, innovative and strategic approaches to address the unique, emerging and unmet needs of persons living with HIV, who are alsoaging. This area includes the management of HIV, as well as thenatural changes and common health and psychosocial challenges of aging..
Despite the medical advancements of HIV, programming, care and services for persons aging with HIV have been outpaced, creating a ripple-effect across whole-person care.
Resources, support systems and networks for professionals working in the HIV field need -development that’s inclusive of evidence-informed practice without siloes.
Collaboration and solidarity is imperative to identifying and attending to the needs and challenges experienced by long-term survivors of HIV. This work is based on the individual contributions of biomedical and research companies, government agencies and non-governmental organization and the collective work of 23 organizations funded by Gilead Sciences, Inc., HIV Age Positively initiative.
A project of RIBBON.