Elderly with HIV/AIDS increases in Riverside County, California

**AliceInWonderland** · July 10th, 2008, 02:04 PM

Elderly With HIV/AIDS Increases In Riverside County
Elderly With HIV/AIDS Increases In Riverside County - Print This Story News Story - KNBC | Los Angeles

Almost 25 percent of new HIV/AIDS cases in Riverside County are men and women age 50 and older -- compared to 15 percent nationwide, according to new research.

The local study was prompted after a nationwide report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The local study measured cases from the past five years, KNBC's Mary Parks reported.

Experts said that thanks to Viagra and other similar drugs, older residents are having sex more than ever before -- increasing the HIV and AIDS numbers.

Experts said divorce and newly single residents may add to the level of sexual activity.

County health care and social services supervisor Danielle Huntsman told the Press Enterprise that, "Most of the people ... this is the last thing they ever thought they would be diagnosed with."

"When I am seeing women 55 and older that are recently divorced coming in as new HIV-positive diagnoses, I know that this is a growing problem," Huntsman told the newspaper.

Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said most of the newly diagnosed seniors in Riverside County are homosexual men, more aging heterosexuals are becoming infected, especially women.

The Inland Empire has one of the largest senior populations in California, Parks reported. Now, Inland health agencies are considering ways to educate older residents about AIDS prevention and the need for HIV and AIDS testing.

Riverside resident Adam Childers said that educating older residents about safe-sex practices may be difficult.

"You got to remember, with seniors they're going to do what they're going to do. You know, you can't teach an old dog new tricks," Childers said.

^ ummmmmmmmm

**Beeyotch** · July 10th, 2008, 02:13 PM

So, what, they're not going to even try the education route? I'm sure some senior citizens would be very interested to know how they can avoid getting AIDS...

**DeadDwarf** · July 10th, 2008, 02:13 PM

That's fucking sad. HIV/AIDS is just horrible.

I wish more people practiced safe sex and realized it CAN happen to them too. HIV is not prejudice to color, gender or age. Scary stuff!

**AliceInWonderland** · July 10th, 2008, 03:37 PM

^ I Know so true

**Grimmlok** · July 10th, 2008, 03:39 PM

old people with aids? that's a new one

Lesson to old people: stop fucking. You wont die of aids, and you'll stop grossing out your grandkids.

**RevellingInSane** · July 10th, 2008, 07:03 PM

There is no excuse for that. They are mature enough to have witnessed the HIV problem from its infancy. They know how to protect themselves. They have access to everything they need and they are still screwing around like it's 1972?

Idiots.

**Sojiita** · July 10th, 2008, 07:50 PM

Isn't Riverside county..well..kind of 'generally' lesser educated, more immigrants, lower incomes..? Maybe they need to step up the education aspects of the threat in that area? I wonder if they could break this down into smaller local 'units'..Isn't Riveside county fucking huge?