Caring someone with AIDS

This brochure was designed to help friends and relatives providing home care for people
with AIDS. It is not a medical document, but a practical guide full of helpful tips regarding your
everyday routine. Above all, it stresses the precautions and preventive measures that should
be taken for the benefit of all involved.

Home care

Most people with AIDS — men, women and children — can continue to lead an active life for a long time. Usually, there is no need for them to be hospitalized. In fact, a person with an AIDS-related illness will often recover more quickly at home, with the loving support of friends and relatives. Also, home care is generally less stressful than hospi­talization.

People with AIDS often have a hard time with such ordinary things as shopping, dealing with the mail, paying bills and tidying up around the house.

You can be of great help in all these areas. But remember that the person with AIDS must accept your assistance. People with AIDS must have control over all decisions that affect them for as long as they are capable of expressing their wishes. You must always take care to respect the person’s privacy and individual rights, and ensure com­plete confidentiality.

YOU ARE NOT ALONE

Many other people have done what you’re doing. Talk to them: their experiences can be a great source of information, encourage­ment and strength.
Every person with AIDS is an individual with a distinct personality. Also, each person is affected by the disease in different ways, and to different degrees.

If you’re planning to care for a person with AIDS at home, you should contact your local CLSC or a community AIDS organization to find out what kind of home assistance and support services are available in your area.

While it’s not always possible, it’s nice to get to know the person’s doctor, nurse, social worker and other caregivers.
These people can help you prepare a home care plan. Ask them for clear written instructions about medication and how it should be adminis­tered, and make sure you know about any adverse reactions that may occur. You should also find out whom to call in an emergency.

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