June 5th marks Long-Term Survivors Day—a day to honor individuals who have lived with HIV for many years, defying the odds and proving resilience, strength, and hope. In recognition of this important day, we are thrilled to share part two of this episode featuring amazing long-term survivors. Their stories remind us of how far we’ve come (and how far we need to keep going) in the fight against HIV and inspire us to keep moving forward. Tune in to hear their journeys, challenges, and victories. This is part two of a two part discussion.

Sources:

https://nastad.org/savehivfunding

https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/living-well-with-hiv/taking-care-of-yourself/aging-with-hiv#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20latest%20data,the%20RWHAP%20and%20older%20adults

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/03/28/1166404485/weathering-arline-geronimus-poverty-racism-stress-health

https://www.hiv.gov/hiv-basics/living-well-with-hiv/taking-care-of-yourself/aging-with-hiv

Late HIV Diagnosis Among Older Adults with HIV

Older Americans are more likely than younger Americans to be diagnosed with HIV late in the course of their disease, meaning they get a late start receiving the benefits of HIV treatment and possibly incur more damage to their immune system. This can lead to poorer prognoses and shorter survival after an HIV diagnosis. Late diagnoses can occur because health care providers may not always test older people for HIV infection, and older people may mistake HIV symptoms for signs of normal aging and don’t consider HIV as a possible cause they should discuss with their provider.

According to a 2024 report from CDC, 33% of people aged 55 and older in the United States* who received a diagnosis in 2022, already had late-stage HIV infection (AIDS) when they were diagnosed (i.e., they received a diagnosis later in the course of their disease).

01:28:14:02 Study in the 90s mentioned. I’d love to source this.

I read it in the 1990's and cited it in an article I wrote but it looks like the original citation is from 1987.

Solomon, G. F., Temoshok, L., O’Leary, A., & Zich, J. (1987). An intensive psychoimmunologic study of long-surviving persons with AIDS: Pilot work, background studies, hypotheses, and methods. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 496(1), 647–655.

https://www.thebody.com/article/eight-characteristics-long-term-survivors-hiv-aids

https://data.unaids.org/pub/externaldocument/2007/gipa1983denverprinciples_en.pdf

00:00 Intro

06:19 Discussing importance of this topic

29:02 Response to Diagnosis

June 5th marks Long-Term Survivors Day—a day to honor individuals who have lived with HIV for many years, defying the odds and proving resilience, strength, and hope. In recognition of this important day, we are thrilled to share this episode featuring amazing long-term survivors. Their stories remind us of how far we’ve come (and how far we need to keep going) in the fight against HIV and inspire us to keep moving forward. Tune in to hear their journeys, challenges, and victories. This is part one of a two part discussion.

Sources:

This is analysis that AmFar did around the CDC getting cut in funding and would could happen in terms of deaths and new diagnoses. :

https://www.amfar.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Cuts-to-CDCs-Division-of-HIV-Prevention.pdf

People can get involved with the #SAVEHIVFunding campaign. Here is a little bit about the campaign: https://nastad.org/savehivfunding

Join us as our guest, Reneah shares her powerful journey of escaping an abusive relationship. Discover the importance of recognizing red flags, setting boundaries, and finding strength. Learn how therapy supports healing and self-awareness, and understand the ongoing nature of recovery with love and support.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Discover the power of open conversations with "Tell Me More," hosted by licensed psychotherapist Doug Jensen. Join Doug as he engages in heartfelt discussions with guests sharing their personal stories and struggles, creating a safe space for vulnerability and understanding.

Doug's professional insights, coupled with his compassionate approach, offer listeners valuable perspectives on mental health challenges and coping strategies. Each episode is a blend of storytelling and practical advice, making it essential listening for anyone interested in mental wellness, self-improvement, and personal growth. Tune in to the podcast or catch the video version for a deeper dive into these important conversations. Subscribe now and explore the universal aspects of mental health that connect us all.