Scoping Review Protocol: Specialised Care Models for Elderly Populations Living with HIV and Non-Communicable Diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa and Selected High-Income Countries

Background: The global population of older adults living with HIV is increasing, particularly in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA), Canada, the United States, and France. These individuals face dual challenges of HIV and non communicable diseases (NCDs), requiring tailored care models that address multimorbidity and age related vulnerabilities. Despite this growing need, specialised geriatric HIV/NCD care remains under researched in SSA, where health systems are often unprepared to deliver integrated, age sensitive services. Objective: This scoping review aims to identify, map, and describe existing specialised care models for elderly populations (≥60 years) living with HIV and NCDs in SSA and selected high income countries, and to highlight implications for policy, practice, and curriculum development in South Africa. Methods: The protocol is guided by the methodological framework of Arksey and O’Malley, as extended by Levac, and aligned with the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) 2020 guidance, which represents the contemporary standard for scoping reviews. Reporting will follow the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA ScR) checklist. Eligibility criteria are structured using the PCC framework: • Population: Adults aged ≥60 years living with HIV and at least one NCD. While some high-income countries conventionally use ≥65 years, this review uniformly adopts ≥60 years, with ≥ 65-based studies included if relevant. • Concept: Tailored specialised care models, including chronic care, integrated care, geriatric HIV models, and multidisciplinary approaches. • Context: SSA (including South Africa) and selected high income countries (Canada, USA, France). Searches will be conducted across PubMed, Web of Science, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus, and Global Health, supplemented by grey literature sources (ProQuest, WHO, OpenGrey, African Union). Two reviewers will independently screen titles, abstracts, and full texts, with discrepancies resolved by consensus or a third reviewer. Data will be charted using a piloted extraction tool and synthesised through descriptive mapping and thematic analysis. Results: Screening will occur between October and December 2025, with analysis from January to March 2026. Outputs will include a PRISMA-ScR flowchart documenting study selection, a descriptive mapping of specialised care models, and an identification of evidence gaps. Findings will highlight the types of tailored care models implemented across SSA and high income countries, their reported outcomes, and the barriers and facilitators influencing adoption. Results are expected to be published in July 2026. Conclusions: This review will provide comprehensive insights into specialised care models for elderly populations living with HIV and NCD multimorbidity. By synthesising evidence across diverse healthcare contexts, the review will inform policy development in SSA, guide the design of geriatric curricula and competencies, and support the integration of tailored chronic care models into primary, secondary, and tertiary health systems. Dissemination will target ministries of health, community based organizations, and policymakers to strengthen geriatric HIV/NCD care and address the growing needs of ageing populations.