Social workers are in a unique position because they interact with the broader social determinants of health—such as mental health, housing, employment, etc.—and see firsthand how they impact people living and aging with HIV. Kerry Littlewood from AAJ Research & Evaluation, Inc., and Russell "Rusty" Bennett from the Center for Social Innovation and Health Equity Research, and Collaborative Solutions, Inc., sit down with ASA President & CEO Leanne Clark-Shirley for this episode to discuss what support social workers need to serve older adults living with HIV.

Many adults who are aging with HIV have experienced immense loss, stigma and discrimination—even within the healthcare system. Unfortunately, the care and treatment they receive often comes from specialists who are unfamiliar with HIV and the unique challenges it poses to older adults. Carole Treston and Sheila Tumilty from the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care address the importance of educating and equipping healthcare workers with the right information and resources to care for people living and aging with HIV.

In 1983, activists developed a manifesto referred to as The Denver Principles, which asserts the rights and responsibilities of people living with HIV, including the right to make meaningful decisions, and declares that they are not passive subjects, but protagonists who are fully involved in their response to AIDS. In this episode, Linda H. Scruggs from Ribbon, a nonprofit organization, and Tez Anderson, President of Let’s Kick Ass—AIDS Survivor Syndrome, sit down with ASA Equity Strategy Director, Patrice Dickerson, to discuss why The Denver Principles continue to be relevant today, particularly for people aging with HIV.