The aging of the AIDS epidemic: emerging legal and public health issues for elderly persons living with HIV/AIDS.

As as the elderly population continues to grow, so does a subgroup of that population--elderly persons living with HIV infection and AIDS. In her article, Professor Waysdorf, a nationally recognized AIDS law expert who has taught, published, and practiced in this area for over a decade, introduces statistics and studies that show just how quickly the HIV/AIDS-infected elderly population is growing. She analyzes which groups within the elderly population are hit hardest by this epidemic, paying particular attention to women and minority groups. The article also considers how much larger these subgroups will become in the following years. Professor Waysdorf then examines existing and proposed legislation that may help this population address the health and legal concerns it faces every day. She recommends additional measures that governmental, medical, professional, and social service agencies can take to further address the needs of the HIV/AIDS infected elderly population. Professor Waysdorf concludes that while some legal safeguards do exist, much more is needed to protect these individuals.