October 26, 2011
iri'ï ^Jortlanò (Observer
Page 17
Women at Risk for HIV
c o n t i n u e d f r o m page 11
accessing support they need because
o f reluctance to talk about their sex
lives.
“People do n ’t think older people
have sex,” she said. “Doctors d o n ’t
ask about it because it is like asking
your m om if you have sex, but older
people, I find, are incredibly sexual,
and it is im portant for them to be
informed.”
But G ethner believes the more
people talk about sex, the better.
A ccording to The N ational Insti
tute on Aging, one in four HIV cases
within the U nited States are people
over 50, and the heterosexual HIV
transmission rate among wom en older
than 50 has doubled w ithin the past
decade.
For m any wom en, it is considered
sham eful to talk about their sex lives
with their friends and medical advis
ers, so it is very unlikely an older
female will attend a w orkshop on safe
sex.
gram teaches w om en tools that will basic inform ation, hear from som e
help them advocate for their ow n one living with H IV , and have the
needs, so that they can be diagnosed opportunity to truly look at their ow n
in a timely fashion and receive the sexual histories and the obstacles
proper treatm ent to help control their they have experienced.
“W e d o n ’t go planning on having illness.
For w om en w ho have H IV , the
sex, but you n ev er k n o w ,” said
“People d o n ’t think it will happen goal is to “help lengthen their lives,
Gethner. “W hen you are 70-years- to them ,” she said. “But prevention is
educate them and get them on treat
old, y o u ’re not going to ju m p out o f cheaper than treatm ent.”
m ent,” she said.
bed and grab a condom at the 7 -1 1 ,1
H er goal for the com ing year is to
For m ore inform ation about the
know!”
do at least four trainings in Oregon, W om en o f a C ertain A ge Program ,
"So m y program is about peer where everyone w ho goes through visit JackiG ethner.com o r call 503-
education,” she said. “W om en, w ho the program will receive certification. 7900974.
are w ell-know n in som e o f their com
m unities, w ill be a contact person,
so that a p erson thinking about
N. T illam ook St)
having sex will have som eone to
speak to.”
She said her hope is that the indi
viduals w ho go through her full-day
trainings wi 11 go out into their pockets
Free Admission
o f the com m unity, at church, schools,
cafes, everyw here, and teach other
w om en they know about HIV and
STD prevention, which could save
lives.
,hc Billy Webb Elks Lodge (6
presents'.
Every Sunday Night
Portland's Own Lady of Jazz - Shirley Nanette
6-9 PM -
October 28th, 2011
A ccording to the Centers for D is
ease Control, m ore than one million
people are living with HI V in the U.S.,
and one in five individuals living with
HIV is unaware o f their own infection.
A lthough the annual num ber o f
new HIV infections has remained rela
tively stable throughout the recent
years, the C D C said an estim ated
56,300 A m ericans are still becom ing
infected each year. The fastest group
to contract the disease is w om en over
50-years-old, who never even real
ized they were at risk o f the infection.
This is w hy, G ethner said, the pro
DJ Michael Morris Performing
9PM - Until late
$5.00 Cover Charge
Learn to Line Dance Friday Nights
Starts at 7pm • Includes M ichael M orris • No cover
“A Worthy Affair”
Fashion Show and Dance
N ovem ber 19, 2011 • Featuring DJ Kevin Berry
Tickets $15.00 in advance/$20.00 at the door
Contactaworthyaffair.com for info
T erry F amily
2337 N. Williams Ave
Portland, Or 97227
503-249-1788
We make the service personal,
Yon make the tribute personal.
Eveiy time we arrange a personalized funeral service, we take special pride going
the extra mile. With our online Memorial Obituary, now we can do even more
Friends and family can find out service information, view photos, read obituary,
order flowers and leave personal messages of condolences from anywhere, anytime.
Sim ply go to o u r w ebsite.
www.terryfamilyfuneralhome.com
"Dedicated to providing excellent service
and superior care o f your loved one ”
photo by M indy C< x ) per /T he P ortland O bserver
Inside her practice Regenerative Therapies in northeast Portland,
educator, activist and health advocate Jacki Gethner shares her
bucket o f chestnuts, which she disperses amongst her patients
so they can give themselves body work in a creative and afford
able way.
Dwight A. Ter
Oregon License CO-36
Amy S. Ter
Oregon License FS-03