Getting the Message Out to Older Adults: Effective HIV Health Education Risk Reduction Publications

Printed publications on HIV/AIDS for an older adult population were obtained from state public health departments within the United States in a previous study that explored the availability of age-specific HIV/AIDS prevention materials. The current study examines whether the HIV health education/risk reduction information contained in these publications is applicable and appropriate to the prevention needs of older adults. Based on an extensive literature review, four major thematic recommendations for designing HIV/AIDS risk reduction print materials for older adults were used as a framework to evaluate the content of these print publications. The results indicate that the currently available publications do not meet all the criteria when assessed using the four thematic categories of recommendations. These findings suggest that greater attention must be given to developing and securing HIV prevention educational materials that adequately address societal attitudes, myths, and biases encountered by older adults.

Investigating the needs and concerns of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender older adults: the use of qualitative and quantitative methodology

Extensive research on the specific needs and concerns of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) older adults is lacking. This article describes the results of both quantitative studies (i.e., LGBT Elders Needs Assessment Scale) and qualitative studies (i.e., focus groups and in-depth interviews with lesbian, gay, or bisexual [LGB] older adults and LGB grandparents) that specifically sought to investigate the unique needs and concerns of LGBT elders. The results identified 7 areas (medical/health care, legal, institutional/housing, spiritual, family, mental health, and social) of concern and the recognition that the needs and concerns of LGBT older adults be addressed across multiple domains, rather than in isolation.

No One Is Immune: A Community Education Partnership Addressing HIV/AIDS and Older Adults

There has been a dramatic increase in the number of new HIV diagnoses among people aged 50 to 64 in the United States, and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in just 7 years (by 2015) 50% of those living with AIDS will be aged 50 or older. To address this public health concern, viable HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment options for individuals over the age of 50 are necessary. This article discusses the No One Is Immune initiative that planned, implemented, and coordinated evidence- based HIV/AIDS prevention and education programs specifically tailored for middle-aged and older adults. Guided by the health belief model, an educational conference entitled "Sexuality, Medication, and HIV/AIDS in Middle and Later Adulthood" was conducted along with research activities that assessed HIV/AIDS knowledge gained using both qualitative and quantitative measures. This project can be replicated by other providers within the aging network.

Developmental issues of grandchildren who provide care to grandparents

This qualitative research examined the perceptions, beliefs, attitudes, and experiences of grandchildren caregivers who ranged in age from 7 to 29 years. Thirty-four caregiving grandchildren participated in face to-face semistructured interviews lasting approximately 35 to 90 minutes. Interviews were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Analysis of the data revealed that caregiving grandchildren: a) experienced a wide range of emotions as providers of care to their grandparents; and b) developed specific coping strategies to deal with the stress of providing care. The intensity, type, and range of emotions experienced and the coping strategies used were a reflection of the developmental issues of the grandchildren. Although grandchildren caregivers experienced similar responsibilities, their developmental level and the context in which care was provided played a role on how they were best able to cope with caregiving responsibilities. Practitioners must consider grandchildren caregivers when developing programs and services for family caregivers.

Scarcity of HIV/AIDS risk-reduction materials targeting the needs of older adults among state departments of public health

This study investigated the availability of printed human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) education/prevention materials from state departments of public health within the United States, which specifically targeted the older adult population. Information on HIV/AIDS from public health departments in each of the 50 states was solicited, obtained, and analyzed for applicability to an older adult population. Although all 50 states responded to our request for publications, only 15 states (30%) provided publications that were specifically intended for an older adult audience. The title, date of publication, and publisher of publications that were considered "specific to older adults" are provided. These findings suggest that there is a general lack of HIV/AIDS prevention literature specifically tailored for older adults available through state departments of public health.

Women's Financial Planning for Retirement: The Impact of Disruptive Life Events

Providing care for an aged parent has immediate financial, emotional, psychological, and physical consequences for the primary caregiver. This pilot study of 138 middle aged and older females analyzes the long term financial consequences of providing care to aged relatives for female caregivers. The impact of this disruptive life event (e.g., caring for an aged relative) on retirement planning among middle aged and older adult women was analyzed using quantitative data collected from women residing in the Midwest region of the United States.