The lack of public education about HIV/AIDS puts people of the so-called “golden age” in danger of contagion by this fatal virus.

The New Jersey chapter of the National AIDS Association for People Over 50 is keeping an eye on this latent problem which, according to Elizabeth Pérez, coordinator of the Spanish-language program, Breaking the Silence: Celebrating Life After Fifty, “is silently affecting seniors who think they are immune to this virus, because of a lack of education about it.”

José, a 73-year-old man who lives in a home for the elderly in Union City, feels lonely and sees prostitutes to have sexual relations once a month, without any type of protection. He is convinced that at his age he cannot be infected.

“We have seen, especially during the early days of the month, both female and male prostitutes hanging around senior living facilities in the early hours, to offer sexual favors to the elderly, knowing that, at this time of the month, their potential “clients” get their pension checks.”

According to Pérez, “this sexual activity among seniors is partly due to their easy access to medications like Viagra, which gives them an artificial virility.”

Pérez gives talks at senior centers to educate golden-agers about the dangers they run when they have sexual relations without adequate protection.

“Latinos of this age refuse to listen to this information, which is a taboo for them, and then there is the skepticism which makes them think they are immune to this virus,” Pérez avers.

Hidy Vargas, 60, was diagnosed with the HIV virus 21 years ago, an illness which she contracted from her husband, who was having sexual relations with an infected woman. In spite of the fact that her husband died in 1994, she continues her battle.

“Thanks to God I feel fine and now I dedicate myself to getting people beyond the myths about this virus, through my organization Red de Angeles en la Tierra (Network of Angels on the Earth).

“One current problem,” explained Pérez, “is that when seniors go to the doctor for recurring colds or weight loss, the physicians don’t think that such a person could have the virus. That’s why most of the cases in seniors, where the virus is already in an advanced state, are detected in hospital emergency rooms. This is the only illness that can be prevented if you take precautions. People have to educate themselves and lose their shame about it. It’s better to have the test done, and, if it’s positive, to seek medical treatment.”

A danger waiting in ambush

Statistics from the New Jersey State Department of Health show that:

* 32,746 cases of persons with the virus and in treatment were reported in 2004

* 21 percent of these are Latino

* It is estimated that over 6,000 of those infected are over 50.

* Nationally, one in every five people over 50 tested for the virus comes up positive.