Gilead Sciences, Inc.
HIV Age Positively®
Those who experienced the early days of the HIV epidemic remember the generation we lost, and the enduring impact that has had on our community.
Since then, we’ve made tremendous progress. For the first time, in the United States, nearly 50% of people living with HIV are over the age of 50. Their stories are an inspiring and powerful reminder of the heroic efforts of all that have made these advancements possible.
It’s now expected that by 2030, 70% of people living with HIV will be over the age of 50.
More critical work remains to be done. Aging with HIV presents new, different challenges for people affected by the epidemic and for the healthcare system as a whole. By 2030, more than 80 percent of people living with HIV will have at least one age-related medical condition, such as cancer or heart disease — an underexamined, underappreciated and underfunded public health issue demanding urgent attention.
This led us to invest in action. HIV Age Positively aims to support programs focused on improving the quality of life and health for those who are aging.
HIV Age Positively has awarded more than $17.6 million in grants to support 30 organizations — from healthcare organizations to advocacy groups working to address the interrelated challenges within the healthcare system and the general HIV community — addressing stigma, loneliness and better coordination of care.
Grantee organizations are working to improve care coordination, increase resources for a better well-being, expand education and inform policy.
Improved Care Coordination
People aging with HIV have unique needs that not all providers are equipped to meet. Our grantees work to make sure people aging with HIV receive care tailored to their needs through continuing education and training programs for doctors and nurses, co-location of medical services, innovative models of care, and other strategies.
Increase Resources for a Better Well-being
Aging with HIV affects a person’s whole life, not just their health. Our grantees work to connect people aging with HIV to the additional resources they may need from mental health hotlines to meal delivery services.
Educate and Inform Policy
To deliver sustainable solutions, it’s not enough to simply provide better care and services at the individualized level; we also need to fight for systemic change. Our grantees work to secure public funding for research, and advocate for laws that increase care for people aging with HIV.