Fri 23 Sep 2016 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
A peer support group for older people living with HIV is to be set up in response to the longer lifespans of people with HIV infection and the health and psychological issues which are emerging. Auckland infectious diseases specialist Dr Simon Briggs says it is now likely that people with HIV, most of whom in New Zealand are gay and bisexual men, will live into their 80s, a very different situation from earlier in the epidemic when people's lives were cut short due to having the virus. An increasing number of people are living relatively well lives despite in some cases being treated for HIV for a decade or more. But there are downsides to the new longevity, Briggs notes. "People with HIV seem to age more quickly," he says, and they are experiencing heightened levels of "heart, liver and kidney disease, neurological conditions and greater physical frailty" than their uninfected peers. Briggs says that frailty is characterised by weight loss, weakness and physical exhaustion." The NZAF says it is also becoming aware of psycho-social issues people with long-term HIV infection are facing including loneliness. “The increasing effectiveness of HIV medications means that people are able to grow old living with HIV. This is a wonderful success story but we do know that ageing with HIV brings with it a series of medical and psycho-social challenges," says NZAF executive director Jason Myers. "The NZAF is committed to providing a range of relevant support services to people with HIV and will be launching a support group for older people living with HIV in the near future.” In response a peer support group will gather for the first time this Wednesday at Auckland's Burnett Centre. When: Starting Wednesday 28th September 4pm to 5:30pm Where: Burnett Centre, 35 Hargreaves St, College Hill To Book Phone: 0800 802 437 or 09 309 5560 or Email: hilary.gerrard@nzaf.org.nz or Richard.nind@nzaf.org.nz
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Friday, 23rd September 2016 - 1:08am