When we talk about sex education and HIV prevention, most of us think about reaching out to teenagers. But those safe sex talks have to extend to parents and yes, even the abuelos.
The misperception is that older people and senior citizens are not sexually active. But making that assumption could leave loved ones without the information they need to protect themselves against sexually transmitted diseases.
Today, on World AIDS Day, we should be reminded that HIV does not discriminate against age. Nationally, people over the age of 50 represent 10 percent of new cases of HIV/AIDS, according to Planned Parenthood of New York. People in this age group are also 15 percent of those actually living with this disease.
With the accessibility of sex enhancement drugs and the availability of sex workers, many older Americans remain sexually active. Despite this reality, the misperception persists that older people are not exposing themselves to sexually transmitted infections. For example, the AIDS Community Research Initiative of America (ACRIA) has found that some physicians do not perceive older adults to be at risk for HIV infection, so they are less likely to test them for the virus. With Latinos more likely to test late for HIV, there are missed opportunities to prevent transmission, as the Latino Commission on AIDS emphasizes.
It may seem challenging to cross lines of culture and respect, but targeting seniors with sex education is a matter of life and death. Some HIV educators present educational activities that are ostensibly geared to helping grandparents offer guidance to their grandkids. But the dual goal here is to get safe sex information to the seniors themselves.
This is a creative model to follow, for the health and well being of seniors who should be living comfortably in their golden years.
When we talk about sex education and HIV prevention, most of us think about reaching out to teenagers. But those safe sex talks have to extend to parents and yes, even the abuelos.
The misperception is that older people and senior citizens are not sexually active. But making that assumption could leave loved ones without the information they need to protect themselves against sexually transmitted diseases.
Today, on World AIDS Day, we should be reminded that HIV does not discriminate against age. Nationally, people over the age of 50 represent 10 percent of new cases of HIV/AIDS, according to Planned Parenthood of New York. People in this age group are also 15 percent of those actually living with this disease.
With the accessibility of sex enhancement drugs and the availability of sex workers, many older Americans remain sexually active. Despite this reality, the misperception persists that older people are not exposing themselves to sexually transmitted infections. For example, the AIDS Community Research Initiative of America (ACRIA) has found that some physicians do not perceive older adults to be at risk for HIV infection, so they are less likely to test them for the virus. With Latinos more likely to test late for HIV, there are missed opportunities to prevent transmission, as the Latino Commission on AIDS emphasizes.
It may seem challenging to cross lines of culture and respect, but targeting seniors with sex education is a matter of life and death. Some HIV educators present educational activities that are ostensibly geared to helping grandparents offer guidance to their grandkids. But the dual goal here is to get safe sex information to the seniors themselves.
