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Updated: Feb 10, 2026
Exergaming in Older People Living with HIV Improves Balance, Mobility and Ameliorates Some Aspects of Frailty
Published on: October 6, 2016
Comparing the care needs of people living with and without HIV in Canadian home and long-term care settings
A D Foebel1, J P Hirdes1, C Boodram2
1School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON.
Insights
People living with HIV have complex care needs, often experiencing more co-infections and mental health issues like depression and social isolation compared to HIV-negative individuals. Understanding these differences is crucial for effective care in home and long-term settings.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) has transformed HIV into a manageable chronic condition, leading to increased longevity.
- Aging populations with HIV require comprehensive healthcare services across various settings.
- Characterizing the distinct care needs of older adults with HIV compared to their HIV-negative counterparts is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare demographic characteristics, chronic conditions, infections, and mental health issues.
- To analyze differences between HIV-positive and HIV-negative individuals.
- To examine care settings including home care, long-term care, and complex continuing care in Canada.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study utilizing interRAI data.
- Comparison of HIV-positive and HIV-negative cohorts.
- Chi-square analyses for co-infections, chronic diseases, and mental health issues.
Main Results:
- Analysis of 1,200,073 individuals, with 0.13% having HIV.
- HIV-positive individuals presented with more co-infections but fewer chronic diseases.
- Increased prevalence of depression, social isolation, and psychotropic medication use in the HIV-positive cohort.
Conclusions:
- Individuals with HIV represent a small but complex group in care settings.
- Care needs of people living with HIV differ significantly from HIV-negative individuals.
- Understanding the context of these needs is vital for developing targeted interventions for aging HIV populations.
Background:
With the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), HIV has become a manageable chronic infection and individuals with it are living longer. Older individuals with HIV will begin to seek services across the continuum of health care. Whether their care needs differ from those who are HIV negative has not been well-characterized.
Objectives:
To compare the demographic characteristics, chronic conditions, presence of infections, and mental health issues among HIV-positive versus HIV-negative individuals in home care, long-term care and complex continuing care settings across Canada.
Methods:
This cross-sectional study used interRAI data to compare characteristics of HIV-positive and HIV-negative individuals in long-term care, complex continuing care and home care settings. Chi-square analyses explored differences between groups on co-infections, chronic disease and mental health issues.
Results:
Data from 1,200,073 people were analyzed of whom 1,608 (0.13%) had HIV. Overall, HIV-positive individuals had more co-infections but fewer chronic diseases than their HIV-negative counterparts. Depression, social isolation and the use of psychotropic medications were generally more prevalent in the HIV-positive cohort.
Conclusion:
People living with HIV make up a small cohort of people with complex needs in home care and institutional settings and their care needs differ from those who are HIV negative. As HIV-positive people age, a better understanding of the context in which these issues are experienced will support appropriate interventions.
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