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Perceived Advantages and Disadvantages of Age among Older HIV-Infected Adults

Columbia University School of Public Health

Victoria Raveis

Columbia University School of Public Health

Daniel Karus

Columbia University School of Public Health

Semistructured interviews were conducted with 63 HIV-infected late middle-age andolder adults (i.e., age 50 or older). An analysis of the narrative material revealed avariety of themes that reflected participants' beliefs about how their older ageadvantaged and/or disadvantaged them in living with this disease. Themes reflectiveof perceived advantages included (1) with age comes wisdom; (2) older people donot feel as cheated; (3) with age comes greater respect for health and life; (4) withage comes patience, contentment, and moderation; (5) older people are less psycho-logically threatened by disability and fatigue; and (6) older people can focus more ontheir own needs. Themes reflective of perceived disadvantages included (1) olderpeople's bodies are more worn down and less resilient, (2) older people are moresocially isolated, (3) older people get less sympathy and are judged more harshly, (4)doctors set higher goals when treating younger patients, and (5) older people are toocompliant and conservative.

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