Aging with HIV

With improvements in the treatment of HIV disease, gay men in great numbers are surviving--and thriving--into middle and older age. While increased longevity brings new hope, it also raises unanticipated challenges, particularly for gay men who never thought they would live this long: How do I deal with all the physical changes? Who can I rely on as I get older? Is a relationship still in the cards for me? What about sex? How should I prepare for old age? A one-of-a-kind guide for gay men aging with HIV, Aging with HIV offers an upbeat, down-to-earth approach for adapting to change, whether driven by age, AIDS, or both. Psychotherapist James Masten and physician James Schmidtberger shed light on the many common assumptions and fears of aging with HIV. Aging with HIV provides concrete solutions for facing midlife with a positive outlook, offering a wealth of advice for breaking unhealthy habits and coping mechanisms. The book describes the nine changes common to gay men as they age with HIV, discusses the four challenges of aging, and offers a unique ten-step path to optimal aging with HIV, helping the reader to tailor the book's suggestions to the realities of their lives. Woven throughout the book are first-person narratives from men who recount what worked--and did not work--for them. In addition, Rapid Research, Fast Fact, and Self-Reflection boxes highlight the latest research and challenge readers to take stock of the present--and plan for the future. An invaluable tool to keep handy and to refer to often, Aging with HIV is an inviting, confident companion to navigating midlife and beyond with HIV.

James Masten, Ph.D., LCSW, has worked in the field of HIV/AIDS for over twenty years. He is on the Adjunct Clinical Faculty at New York University School of Social Work, and has been a clinical research consultant for Yale University School of Medicine, Duke University, and the Medical College of Wisconsin. Dr. Masten has a private practice in psychotherapy in New York City. James Schmidtberger, M.D., is Director of HIV Services at Gouverneur Healthcare Services in New York City and an Instructor at New York University School of Medicine.

Section I Aging Means Changing Introduction Chapter 1. "I'm Still Here" Chapter 2. Physical Changes: AIDS or Age? Chapter 3. Who Do You Consider a Friend Nowadays? Chapter 4. Being Gay at Mid Life Chapter 5. Let's Talk About Sex Chapter 6. Love and Marriage Chapter 7. In the Family Chapter 8. What About Work? Chapter 9. How You've Grown Summary Section II Getting Stuck Introduction Chapter 10. Learning from the Past or Living in the Past? Chapter 11. Living within Limitations or Letting your World Shrink? Chapter 12. Accepting Yourself or Getting Stuck in Your Ways? Chapter 13. Living One Day at a Time or Relinquishing a Plan for the Future? Summary Section III 10 Steps to Optimal Aging with HIV Introduction Step 1. Care for Your Physical Health Step 2. Rebuild Your Social Networks Step 3. Be Generative Step 4. Fight the Triple Threat: AIDS Stigma, Homophobia, and Ageism Step 5. Let Yourself Grieve Step 6. Check Your Baggage Step 7. Develop Effective Coping Strategies Step 8. Renew Your Spirituality Step 9. Plan for the Future Step 10. Play About the Study