Nursing Assistant Monthly FEBRUARY 2008 HIV/AIDS and Older Adults

Caring for residents with HIV infection

HIV/AIDS in older adults

Nursing Assistant Monthly FEBRUARY 2008 HIV/AIDS and Older Adults

Why are we seeing HIV/AIDS in older adults?

• Better treatment for HIV infection is leading to longer life spans

• More older adults are getting infected (they don’t think they are at risk)

Nursing Assistant Monthly FEBRUARY 2008 HIV/AIDS and Older Adults

What is HIV/AIDS?

HIV = Human Immunodeficiency Virus

CAUSES

AIDS = Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome

Nursing Assistant Monthly FEBRUARY 2008 HIV/AIDS and Older Adults

Are you more likely to get infected with HIV…

1) at work, caring for a resident with

AIDS?

OR

2) after work in your personal life?

(Answer: next slide)

Nursing Assistant Monthly FEBRUARY 2008 HIV/AIDS and Older Adults

Are you more likely to get infected with HIV…

after you leave work.

Why?

Nursing Assistant Monthly FEBRUARY 2008 HIV/AIDS and Older Adults

HIV Is Not Spread By:

Routine caregiving:• Bathing• Feeding • Toileting, unless blood is present and

somehow enters your bloodstream ( for example, through a cut in your skin)

Nursing Assistant Monthly FEBRUARY 2008 HIV/AIDS and Older Adults

HIV Is Not Spread By:

Casual contact:• Shaking hands• Kissing (closed mouth)• Hugging• Sneezing

Nursing Assistant Monthly FEBRUARY 2008 HIV/AIDS and Older Adults

Through the exchange of bodily fluids:• Blood• Semen• Pre-ejaculate fluid (fluid from the penis during sexual

arousal)• Vaginal fluids• Breast milk• During unprotected sexual activity, sharing needles to inject

drugs, tattoos, breastfeeding, labor and delivery, blood transfusions in the past (today the blood supply is screened)

HIV infection IS spread

Nursing Assistant Monthly FEBRUARY 2008 HIV/AIDS and Older Adults

Remember!

• Not all residents are tested• Therefore, any resident could be infected

with HIV• That’s why we use standard precautions to

protect ourselves

Nursing Assistant Monthly FEBRUARY 2008 HIV/AIDS and Older Adults

At work, the risk is small

• But it does exist• Learn how to protect yourself

• Wear gloves for contact bodily fluids

• Mask, gown, and/or goggles if bodily fluids are likely to spray you

Nursing Assistant Monthly FEBRUARY 2008 HIV/AIDS and Older Adults

In your personal life

• Practice safe sex• Good hand washing• Never share needles, razors, toothbrush• Disinfect surfaces soiled with bodily fluids• Learn all you can about HIV and AIDS• Consider getting tested; talk to your doctor

or health care practitioner for advice