Predictors of End of Life Discussions Among Minority Older Women Living With HIV Infection

Abstract

Background: Among the 39,782 newly HIV diagnosed individuals in the U.S., 17% were aged 50+. Although premature aging, morbidity, and mortality are issues for older people living with HIV that threaten their quality of life, less attention has been focused on end of life (EOL) discussions. Objectives: To examine predictors of EOL discussions with significant others, family members, and friends. Methods: Cross-sectional design was used for this study guided by the The Socio Ecological Model (SEM). Sample: 119 Black and 19 Hispanic women aged 50+ living with HIV. Results: Predictors of EOL discussions were education, living with a partner, religiosity, and pain, which were at the individual-intrapersonal level of the SEM. Discussion: Findings from this study have important implications for health policy makers and clinicians because they cast a bright light on the substantial continued effort that is needed to improve EOL discussions.

From surviving to thriving: the current status of the behavioral, social, and psychological issues of aging with HIV

“…In regions where healthcare systems are not equipped to adequately address the unmet physical, mental, and social needs of OPLWH, alternative routes of care should be considered, including community-based models that both leverage generativity in OPLWH and their interest in self-managed care [91]. Lastly, as OPLWH reach the later stages of their life course, special consideration should be made by care providers to facilitate discussions that center end of life processes including physical and mental health deteriorations, which may vary according to race, social support level, and pain level [92,93].…”