The Caribbean Vulnerable Communities (CVC) recently hosted an in-depth training session for healthcare workers from the Southeast Regional Health Authority (SERHA), focused on enhancing care for older adults living with HIV. SERHA includes healthcare facilities in the parishes of St. Thomas, St. Catherine, Kingston and St. Andrew in Jamaica.
As advancements in HIV treatment allow people living with HIV (PLHIV) to live longer, the healthcare landscape must adapt. New approaches are needed to address not only the complexities of managing HIV, but also the age-related health challenges that often arise alongside it. This workshop provided a comprehensive refresher on holistic management strategies, with a focus on differentiated care for aging populations. Participants were equipped with the necessary tools and knowledge to navigate the increasingly complex health needs of older PLHIV, who often face a combination of HIV and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular issues.
The timing of this training is more critical than ever as many healthcare providers were trained in an era when HIV was considered an acute, life-threatening illness. Today, HIV is a manageable, chronic condition, and this shift requires healthcare workers to rethink their approach to patient care. Daniel Perry, Treatment Care and Support Officer at the St. Jago Park Healthcare Centre in St. Catherine, emphasized the need for a broader focus on patient care, noting, “I think the training was very comprehensive, especially at looking at the whole patient as opposed to just managing HIV. With a population who is aging and coming in with other comorbidities, the training addressed the gaps in terms of the types of screening that might be required,” he noted.
He continued, “So maybe an adherence counsellor or social worker might understand that a person might have diabetes and hypertension, but this training helped to bring attention to the fact that after a patient reaches a certain age, we need to start screening for other conditions like colon cancer. I think that really stood out for me during this session.”
Taici-ann Brown, an Adherence Counsellor at Maxfield Park Health Center in St. Andrew, echoed the importance of a holistic approach, stating, “We have a lot of people living with HIV who have other conditions as well, and with this knowledge, I will be able to do a better job of taking care of them. Training like these are essential as our focus should not only be on HIV when treating these patients but to help take care of their overall health.”
As the prevalence of NCDs among older adults rises, the interaction between HIV medications and treatments for NCDs can become complicated and, if not properly managed, potentially harmful. Daniel Perry further noted, “From my end where I mostly look at data, I now know that I should start looking at other comorbidities and monitoring those numbers as well, and not just viral loads and CD4 counts.”
Through this workshop, CVC sought to ensure that participants left with not only enhanced clinical expertise but also a greater understanding of the psychosocial challenges faced by older PLHIV. Practical skills for assessing and addressing the emotional and social needs of patients were emphasized as key components of the training.
This workshop is part of CVC’s ongoing commitment to strengthening healthcare delivery systems by providing continuous education and capacity building. The goal is to ensure that every individual living with HIV, regardless of age, receives comprehensive, respectful, and person-centered care.
CVC remains dedicated to enhancing the capacity of healthcare professionals, ensuring that individuals living with HIV are treated with the care and respect they deserve throughout their lives.
