1. Nursing Assistant Monthly FEBRUARY 2008 HIV/AIDS and Older Adults Caring for residents with HIV infection HIV/AIDS in older adults

2. 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)

3. Nursing Assistant Monthly FEBRUARY 2008 HIV/AIDS and Older Adults What is HIV/AIDS? HIV = Human Immunodeficiency Virus CAUSES AIDS = Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome

4. 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)

5. Nursing Assistant Monthly FEBRUARY 2008 HIV/AIDS and Older Adults Are you more likely to get infected with HIV… after you leave work. Why?

6. 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)

7. Nursing Assistant Monthly FEBRUARY 2008 HIV/AIDS and Older Adults HIV Is Not Spread By: Casual contact: Shaking hands Kissing (closed mouth) Hugging Sneezing

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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