It’s easy to forget that AIDS and HIV are still common threats to millions of people around the world. During the 1980s, when AIDS was becoming more well-known as a serious and deadly health risk, people were paranoid about those who might have the disease. Today, AIDS is better understood, people suffering from it are more accepted, and treatment options are much more effective.
However, when it comes to AIDS and home care services, it’s important to understand the health risks, as well as treatment options and what one can do for someone dealing with this disease, no matter how old they are.
The first thing to consider with regard to AIDS and HIV, whether it’s for a loved one or concerns that you may have with an in home care provider is that AIDS can only be transferred by an exchange of bodily fluids. This can include blood, so this month, pay more attention to the home health care services that you may hire or have working with an elderly loved one who may have AIDS or HIV.
When working with patients, nurses and doctors are regularly aware of the potential health risks that abound, but an in home care provider may have limited experience working with an individual who may have a disease like AIDS or HIV. Taking a few precautions will benefit everyone involved.
If your loved one has been diagnosed with AIDS or HIV, it’s important to be upfront and honest with the home health care services agency as well as the in home care provider. This isn’t meant to give permission to the provider to treat your loved one any differently than they would have if they didn’t know, but to allow them the opportunity to approach certain tasks with more care.
While there are certainly precautions that should be carried out when working with patients, no matter what condition their health is, sometimes it can be too easy to be complacent. When assisting an individual with bathing, providing medication through a syringe or IV, or any other potential points of open wound contact, the care provider should always wear protecting clothing, such as surgical gloves.
October provides us all with a reminder about AIDS and the impact it can have on people who are dealing with the disease. It’s also a good time to be mindful that the disease still exists and each person should be treated with respect and dignity and that home care services should be aware of the situation in order to provide the highest level of care possible.
If you have a loved one who could benefit from the help of home care services in Garden Oaks, TX contact the caregivers at At Your Side Home Care. We help seniors and their families with many levels of home care service. Call (832) 271-1600 for more information.
Our Certified Nurse Aides, 24-Hour Live-in Assistants and Home Health Aides are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We also provide the security and confidence of 24-hour Telephone Assistance, so fast, reliable help is always available when it's needed. To learn more about our homecare services see our homecare services page.
Different people need different levels of homecare. To meet the requirements of our clients, At Your Side Homecare maintains consistent staffing levels of caring professionals. Homecare service is available for as little as a few hours a week, or as many as 24 hours a day, seven days a week
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