The Hidden Reality of Aging with HIV | H+ARP Palm Springs

There was a time when an HIV diagnosis came with a countdown.

Today, HIV is a manageable condition, and people are living longer than ever before. But with that progress comes a new and less visible reality:

What does it mean to grow older with HIV?

That question is at the heart of the HIV+ Aging Research Project – Palm Springs (H+ARP).

A New Reality We Didn’t Plan For

Founded in 2015 by physicians, researchers, activists, and people living with HIV, H+ARP focuses on understanding the long-term medical and emotional impact of aging with the virus—and how to help people not just live longer, but live well.

The need is growing rapidly. In 2001, only 17% of Americans living with HIV were age 50 or older. Today, that number exceeds 50%, and by 2030 it is expected to reach 75%.

This progress brings new challenges.

Compared to HIV-negative peers, individuals aging with HIV may experience earlier onset of neurocognitive decline, increased frailty, and higher rates of isolation, depression, and PTSD. Many long-term survivors also carry the emotional weight of having lived through the AIDS epidemic—often referred to as AIDS Survivor Syndrome.

Here in Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley, many of those now aging with HIV were instrumental in building the very systems of care that exist today. H+ARP is the only organization locally dedicated specifically to supporting this population.

Leadership with Lived Experience and Vision

Jeff Taylor, Executive Director of H+ARP, is a long-term survivor and national HIV research advocate whose work dates back to the earliest clinical trials.

Alongside him is Steven Drew Auerbach, Co-Executive Director and COO, whose background in global business and nonprofit leadership helps expand H+ARP’s reach and impact.

Together, their work bridges science, community, and lived experience.

Why This Matters Now

While HIV is now widely understood as a manageable condition, many long-term survivors carry decades of history in their bodies and minds. Aging with HIV is not simply about longevity—it is about quality of life.

It is about ensuring that those who survived the epidemic are supported, understood, and not overlooked.

A Personal Note

As the host and producer of this segment, this story is not abstract for me.

I have been living with HIV since 2007, and my involvement in HIV/AIDS activism spans more than four decades.

I have witnessed the evolution of this epidemic—and now, the emergence of a generation navigating what it means to age with HIV.

Organizations like H+ARP are helping define what it means to live—and thrive—over time.

Learn More

To learn more about the HIV+ Aging Research Project – Palm Springs, visit:
www.harp-ps.org

To support ongoing storytelling and community visibility, visit:
www.PromoHomo.TV/Empower

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