5 December 12-18, 2024 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com New Times | Contents | Letters | news | night+Day | CuLture | Cafe | MusiC | EVERYBODY’S DOING IT “STDs Are Timeless” ad campaign has Miamians fired up. BY ZULEKHA PITTS M iami is a city where people come to let their freak flag fly — whether partying on South Beach or, apparently, hav- ing sex atop wooden elephants during pre-Art Basel. It’s a place that embraces the wild and free spirit of all ages, with an extra nod to the older crowd, thanks to its thriving retiree and assisted-liv- ing communities. In Miami, age is just a number, and the older you get, the younger you seem to feel or even look, thanks to the powers of cosmetic pros like Dr. Miami. But while the city’s vi- brant energy welcomes everyone, it also comes with responsibilities — and challenges. Yes, even grandma and grandpa aren’t off the hook when it comes to keeping their sexca- pades safe. This week, a Reddit post thrust those chal- lenges into the spotlight, sparking conversa- tion and raising awareness about one of Miami’s most unexpected realities. User pe- terpan3333 (very fitting) shared a photo of a local billboard that reads, “STDs are Time- less,” alongside an image of a silver-foxed couple sharing a kiss. Their caption on the post? “This is so confusing, yet so Miami at the same time.” The thread has quickly be- come a mix of humor and hard truths about aging, sexual health, and Miami’s signature extra-ness. Redditors didn’t hold back when discuss- ing the implications of the ad — and some comments are both brutally honest and oddly educational. One user comments, “Nursing homes are rampant with STDs. Good for Grandpa, but also wtf?” Another shares, “The elderly are a fast-growing group of new cases of STDs. They think they can’t get them as they are older and, as such, don’t practice safe sex or do regular test- ing. They can also be quite promiscuous. You’d be shocked to know what goes on in nursing homes.” xSome reactions lean toward disbelief and dark humor, with one person writing, “I thought this was an ad in GTA (Grand Theft Auto),” while another reflects on their research into elder-focused businesses, saying, “When I was researching new business ventures in 2017, I looked into abuelo daycares. I learned that they get a lot of STDs. What the fuck, abuelo? Wrap that shit.” And, in a comment that perfectly encapsu- lates Miami’s unique reputation, someone sums it up: “If this was Miami accurate, the guy would be on a yacht with a very younger woman.” The thread is a chaotic mix of humor and truth, highlighting the need for more conver- sation around sexual health for Miami’s older population. The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), a Los Angeles-based nonprofit and the largest provider of HIV/AIDS medical care in the world, according to its website, is behind the campaign. It has ads in 15 cities nationwide where AHF offers free STD testing and treat- ment, including Los Angeles, Chicago, and Seattle. Dr. Cassandre Milien, a clinical coordina- tor at St. Thomas University, has studied sex- ually transmitted infections in older adults extensively. In her 2024 research, Milien found that STI rates among adults aged 55 and older have more than doubled over the past decade, making them the second-largest group affected after young adults. “Miami-Dade County has seen a measur- able increase in STI diagnoses [HIV and AIDS] among older adults aged 60-plus over the years,” Milien tells New Times after the paper emailed her statistics. “Although the total numbers fluctuate yearly, there is evi- dence of steady diagnoses, which signal that the problem persists among older adults in Miami-Dade County.” Milien’s findings highlight that “the in- crease in STI rates among older adults is tied to several factors.” Many older adults mistak- enly believe they are no longer at risk for STIs after menopause or because pregnancy is no longer a concern. Compounding the problem is a reluctance among healthcare providers to discuss sexual health with older patients, of- ten due to stigma or biases that assume se- niors aren’t sexually active. Communal living environments rich in so- cial opportunities tend to elevate the likeli- hood of sexual activity, Milien adds. “Without awareness, older adults might not recognize STI symptoms or seek testing. They may attri- bute symptoms to aging or other health condi- tions, leading to delayed diagnosis, worsening health outcomes, and a higher likelihood of unknowingly transmitting infections.” Her study implemented a simple interven- tion: A 45-minute training session for pri- mary care providers on STI screening. The results? STI screening rates among adults jumped from 2 percent to 10 percent within eight weeks, implying that better provider education can lead to meaningful change. “When providers initiate these conversa- tions, patients are more likely to take preven- tative measures,” Milien notes in the study. To gain further insight into her findings and recommendations, New Times reached out to Milien and is currently awaiting her re- sponse. New Times reached out to the Florida De- partment of Health in Miami-Dade County to obtain current information on STDs among older adults in the county. The department in- dicated that the most recent data available was from 2022. However, they did not have the 2022 data on hand and requested it from the Epicenter Department. In the meantime, they directed New Times to a 2018 HIV/AIDS fact sheet on older adults in Miami-Dade County. According to the 2018 fact sheet, 55 per- cent of people living with diagnosed HIV in Miami-Dade County were aged 50 or older, representing 15,480 individuals. Older adults accounted for 22 percent of new HIV diagno- ses in the county that year, with Hispanics making up the largest group among new cases. The data also emphasized the impor- tance of prevention tools like pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a daily pill that reduces the risk of acquiring HIV by more than 90 percent when taken consistently. PrEP is es- pecially vital for those at higher risk, but it does not prevent other STDs, making condom use and regular testing equally important. While the Florida Department of Health and other organizations like Test Miami aim to provide HIV testing and prevention re- sources, experts agree that the lack of com- prehensive sexual health education for older adults remains a significant barrier. As one Reddit user put it: “Older people have sex, and they can still get STDs.” Miami is a city that thrives on its diversity, energy, and inclusivity. Addressing the unique health needs of its aging population can ensure that everyone can enjoy the city’s vibrancy responsibly. From better provider education to targeted health campaigns, there’s work to be done — but the potential for progress is clear. As that one Redditor jokes, “I’m all boned up over here,” let’s make sure Miami’s older adults are too — but in a safe, informed way. Z.Pitts@MiamiNewTimes.com A billboard to reminds seniors that they, too, can contract STDs. AIDS Healthcare Foundation photo | METRO | “NURSING HOMES ARE RAMPANT WITH STDS. GOOD FOR GRANDPA, BUT ALSO WTF?”
