Healthcare Experiences and Needs of Older Adults Living With HIV: A Qualitative Study

To explore the healthcare experiences and needs of older adults living with HIV in Sweden.

A phenomenological study using qualitative thematic analysis.

Data were gathered through semistructured qualitative interviews and analysed using thematic analysis. A purposive sample of individuals ageing and living with HIV was recruited for this study.

A total of 22 participants aged 65 years and older, with a mean age of 75 years, participated in the study. Living with HIV meant a need to rely on consistent healthcare and treatment over the course of one's lifetime. The experiences of older adults were described under four themes: relying on access to health care, desiring involvement and shared decision-making, the importance of trust and confidentiality and experiences of stigma in healthcare visits.

Living and ageing with HIV involved recurring exposure and vulnerability in healthcare encounters, and experiences of being exposed to HIV-related stigma, especially outside HIV clinics. Continuity and being seen as a person in healthcare encounters were important. Enhancing HIV knowledge alongside fostering supportive attitudes and approaches of healthcare professionals is critical for ensuring high-quality and nondiscriminating health care.

Meeting the needs of older adults living with HIV requires a person-centred approach, including active involvement and shared decision-making between patients and healthcare providers.

This study describes the healthcare experiences and needs of older adults, aged 65 years and older, living with HIV, a population that is not typically investigated in qualitative research. Living and ageing with HIV means a vulnerability where the attitudes of professionals and the active involvement of the patient become significant for quality care. The findings can help with the implementation of policies and practices for the care of older adults living with HIV.

The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Studies (COREQ) was used.

Patient representatives were involved in discussions on data collection and the development of the interview guide.