Senior citizens, often overlooked in discussions of sexual health, are receiving the attention they deserve in a new initiative focused on HIV and aging. The HIV Planning Group (HPG), a coalition of over thirty local organizations, identified seniors as one of its target populations, because of the relatively high incidence of HIV among Baltimore seniors.  This month, the HPG is implementing a new outreach strategy by hosting free lunches at different senior centers and residences around the city. Guests will be able to enjoy a meal and access a variety of health resources, including flu shots, blood pressures screenings, HIV testing.

Many organizations are coming together to plan these events, and one woman in particular has worked tirelessly bringing groups together over her 30 years of HIV advocacy in the city. Stephanie Brooks-Wiggins, co-chair of the HPG, has helped mobilize both city and non-profit agencies for the upcoming events. She helped found Older Women Embracing Life (OWEL, pronounced “oh well”), a support group for women who are long-term survivors of HIV. Facilitating sexual health conversations among seniors has its challenges, but OWEL brings nearly a decade of experience to the table. For the last eight years, the group has been presenting on HIV and other health issues at local senior centers and residences for the annual National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day in September.

As for Ms. Brooks-Wiggins herself, she was first diagnosed with HIV in the late 1980s. The lack of HIV-related resources, especially for African American women, sparked her involvement in multiple community organizations. Although she says that treatment and advocacy have come a long way since then, Ms. Brooks-Wiggins hopes that more health providers remember to ask their older patients about sexual health. During her years of working in hospitals, she would often remind doctors to consider their geriatric patients holistically, not focus focusing only on diseases that tend to arise in older populations. Ms. Brooks-Wiggins continues to champion HIV prevention and treatment in Baltimore. When asked how she maintains her energy as an advocate, she cites her passion. “That’s what’s helped me live so long – my involvement and commitment to our community.”