Palm Springs, California, is a retirement community with the highest prevalence of people living with HIV (PLWHIV) over age 50 in the United States. We conducted focus groups with multiple HIV and aging stakeholders to select priority topics for future research on HIV and aging.

PLWHIV over 55 years of age, HIV health professionals, and CBO representatives were recruited to participate in five focus groups. Following community-based participatory research (CBPR) principles, all study materials were created by a steering committee of PLWHIV and other community stakeholders, and focus groups were facilitated by trained community members living with HIV. Systematic analysis of qualitative data was conducted using the rigorous and accelerated data reduction (RADaR) technique.

Eighteen PLWHIV, eight health professionals and, eight CBO representatives participated in the focus groups. Most were non-Hispanic white (79.4%) and 85.3% of participants were male. The PLWHIV participants wanted research on the long term effects of HIV treatment. In addition, they reported a need to research mental health of people living with HIV, especially depression, social support, and isolation. The health professionals and CBO group echoed the priorities among those living with HIV “take it back to the community and say, what do you think?”, but also discussed drug interactions with HIV medications, and comorbidities.

All groups agreed that research topics concerning those aging with HIV should be selected by community members aging with HIV. The patient perspective on priorities in future HIV and aging research is particularly important, and is line with the Denver Principles.