The intimate lives of older adults living with HIV: a qualitative study of the challenges associated with the intersection of HIV and ageing

Abstract

Older adults living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are at risk of experiencing difficulties in their intimate lives due to the combined effects of HIV and ageing. To date, little research has focused on the lived experience of sexuality. This article seeks to fill in the gap by documenting the challenges faced by this population with respect to their intimate relationships and sexual lives. Based upon the results of a qualitative study conducted in Montreal (2010–2012) using semi-structured interviews with a diverse sample of 38 people aged 50–73 and living with HIV, this study revealed several difficulties, including those related to their social location, whereby HIV and ageing intersect with other social determinants (including gender, sexual orientation and drug use). Difficulties that were identified include lower sexual desire linked to ageing, erectile changes, difficulty in using condoms, stigma related to HIV and/or ageism, changes in appearance caused by HIV and/or ageing, along with the impact of their lifecourse experiences. Our results shed light on the specific nature of the difficulties experienced by older adults living with HIV with regard to their intimate lives, as well as on the importance of using an analysis that combines the theoretical approaches of intersectionality and lifecourse to enhance our capacity for understanding complex and unique experiences.

Stigma, isolation and depression among older adults living with HIV in rural areas

“…This also made establishing sexual or romantic relationships difficult, a challenge associated with ageing and HIV. Recent research has highlighted how ageism and HIV stigma can have negative repercussions on the lives of older persons living with HIV (Wallach and Brotman, 2018), and our research extends this work to demonstrate the additional impact of homonegativity faced by many older adults living with HIV and the challenges of contending with such stigmas in rural communities.…”

Ageing of the Australian LGBQ population: estimates and projections to mid-century

“…Despite deficiencies in population-level data collections, over the past decade there has been a growing gerontological evidence base of the unique ageing experience of LGBTQI people. Within Ageing & Society, studies focusing upon LGBTQI ageing have investigated deficiencies and best practices in aged care (Willis et al, 2016;Leyerzapf et al, 2018;Hafford-Letchfield et al, 2023), use of health and social care services (Kneale et al, 2021;Benbow et al, 2022), social capital and social support (Cronin and King, 2014;Hughes, 2016;Hawthorne et al, 2020), inequalities, attitudes and discrimination (Simpson et al, 2018;Bécares, 2021;Lyons et al, 2021), as well as exploring issues of ageing with an LGBTQI identity (Lyons et al, 2015;Bower et al, 2021;Willis et al, 2021), including those with specific health conditions such as dementia or HIV (Price, 2012;Wallach and Brotman, 2018). These research priorities mirror themes in LGBTQI ageing more generally (Fredriksen-Goldsen and Muraco, 2010;Hawthorne et al, 2020;Kneale et al, 2021).…”

Gaps in health and social care services to older adults living with HIV: a qualitative study on the perspectives of older adults and service providers

“…[2][3][4] Social science research has also revealed the many psychosocial difficulties experienced by older adults living with HIV (OAHIV). [5][6][7][8][9] Older adults living with HIV (OAHIV) are particularly vulnerable to mental health problems, 4,10,11 isolation, 5,12 and HIV and age-related stigma 1 . 8,12,13 In addition, OAHIV often find themselves confronted by a lack of emotional and instrumental support from the community due to distance from family and the absence of intimate partners.…”