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‘I'm happy in my life now, I'm a positive person’: approaches to successful ageing in older adults living with HIV in Ontario, Canada

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 August 2016

CHARLES A. EMLET ,
LESLEY HARRIS ,
CHARLES FURLOTTE ,
DAVID J. BRENNAN  and
CHRISTINA M. PIERPAOLI
CHARLES A. EMLET*
Affiliation:
Social Work Program, University of Washington, Tacoma, USA.
LESLEY HARRIS
Affiliation:
Kent School of Social Work, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
CHARLES FURLOTTE
Affiliation:
School of Social Work, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada.
DAVID J. BRENNAN
Affiliation:
Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto, Canada.
CHRISTINA M. PIERPAOLI
Affiliation:
Alabama Research Institute on Aging, University of Alabama, USA.
*
Address for correspondence: Charles A. Emlet, University of Washington, Tacoma, 1900 Commerce St., Campus Box 358425, Tacoma, WA 98402-5825, USA E-mail: caemlet@u.washington.edu
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Abstract

Worldwide approximately 3.6 million people aged 50 and older are living and ageing with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Few studies have explored successful ageing from the insider perspective of those living well and ageing with HIV. This study draws upon the lived experience and wisdom of older, HIV-positive adults living in Ontario, Canada in order to understand their views and strategies for successful ageing. This qualitative study involved semi-structured interviews with 30 individuals age 50 years and older who are HIV-positive. Purposive sampling techniques were used to recruit individuals who shared their experiences of successful ageing. Constructivist grounded theory coding techniques were used for analysis. Themes related to successful ageing included resilience strategies and challenges, social support and environmental context. Stigma and struggles to maintain health were identified as impediments to successful ageing. Models of successful ageing must take into account the potential for a subjective appraisal of success in populations suffering from chronic and life-threatening illnesses including HIV. Practitioners can draw upon organically existent strengths in this population in order to provide intervention development for older adults around the world who are struggling to manage their HIV.

Keywords

resilienceHIV infectionageing with HIVqualitative researchsuccessful ageing
Type
Articles
Information
Ageing & Society , Volume 37 , Issue 10 , November 2017 , pp. 2128 - 2151
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2016 

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