The UK’s ageing HIV positive population are facing a social care ‘timebomb’, a sexual health charity warns as report records ‘shocking’ incidents of stigma and discrimination within care homes.
A new report - Uncharted Territory - by Terrence Higgins Trust found the elderly now represent one in three of all people living with HIV, but the social care, healthcare and welfare systems are not prepared to care for them.
Nearly six out of 10 (58%) of people 50 and over living with HIV who were surveyed are living in poverty, the charity discovered. This is double that seen in the general population.
Meanwhile, 84% of respondents - many of whom never expected to live long after being diagnosed - were concerned about future financial plans.
The survey of over 240 older people living with HIV also revealed loneliness to be an acute issue. 82% experienced moderate to high levels of loneliness - three times more than the general population of the same age.
Of the group that was surveyed, 82% reported being concerned about whether they will be able to access adequate social care in the future. And a quarter said they would have no one to help them if they ever needed support with daily tasks.
‘These statistics should be a wake-up call to governments,’ said Ian Green, chief executive of Terrence Higgins Trust.
‘People aged 50 and over are now the fastest growing group of people living with HIV, and new diagnoses in older people continue to rise.
‘The issues they face can no longer be ignored, as the challenges of poverty, loneliness and social care grow more acute.
‘As it stands, our welfare, health and social care systems are simply not ready for this and we could see a timebomb in the years to come.
‘We must ensure our GPs, our care homes and our communities are ready to support people with HIV to live well in later life, while facing the uncertainty of what lies ahead.’
The charity also reported that, while carrying out the research, they heard ‘alarming stories of stigma and discrimination within care homes and other health and social care settings’ and warned training for professionals must be improved.
