ABSTRACT
there were a great number of concerns. The primary concern was could we care for this patient adequately. The fears of the staff, the fears of contracting the disease, the fear that we could lose staff because we had AIDS patients in our facility. The very real fear that other patients would leave the facility because we had an AIDS patient, financial concerns because these, very frankly, are costly folks to care for and the reimbursement is usually Medicaid which does not cover the cost. Those were the major problems. (Headley, 1993) As with most LTC, care for people with AIDS is largely provided through personal networks of family and friends. Yet, as with other chronic needs, there are people for whom informal caregiving network are not available, are not well enough developed to provide adequately, of become overwhelmed at the magnitude and duration of care that is sometimes required. These people must turn to the formal LTC system for the services that supplement of supplant informal efforts.
Subject(s)
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/therapy , Attitude of Health Personnel , Long-Term Care , Connecticut , Health Personnel/education , Humans , Interviews as Topic , Long-Term Care/organization & administration , Terminal CareABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: This investigation assessed change in use of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing by minors after removal of the parental consent requirement in Connecticut. METHODS: HIV counseling and testing records for 13- to 17-year-olds who accessed publicly funded testing sites were analyzed. RESULTS: The number of visits increased by 44% from the 12-month period before the statutory change (n = 656) to the 12-month period thereafter (n = 965). The number of HIV tests increased twofold. Visits and tests of high-risk minors tripled. CONCLUSIONS: Minors should have the right to consent to HIV testing.
Subject(s)
Adolescent , HIV Seropositivity/diagnosis , HIV-1/immunology , Informed Consent , Minors , Parental Consent , Parents , Age Factors , Connecticut , Counseling/statistics & numerical data , Female , Humans , Informed Consent/legislation & jurisprudence , Male , Risk Factors , Sex FactorsABSTRACT
The management of AIDS has become an issue of chronic care as well as acute treatment. As the number of people with AIDS increases, the demand for ongoing care and support, both informal and formal, is expected to increase. The present study is based on a survey of all licensed nursing homes in the state of Connecticut with respect to prevailing attitudes toward the admission of residents with AIDS, and the level of staff, resident and procedural preparedness that exists. Both positive attitudes among the various LTC constituent groups as well as the level of preparation in a number of areas are correlated with the admission of residents with AIDS. Implications are discussed and recommendations are offered for policy development.
Subject(s)
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/nursing , Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/psychology , Attitude of Health Personnel , Long-Term Care/psychology , Nursing Homes/statistics & numerical data , Patient Admission/statistics & numerical data , Chronic Disease , Connecticut , Health Care Surveys , Homes for the Aged/statistics & numerical data , Humans , Long-Term Care/organization & administration , Nursing Homes/classification , Nursing Homes/organization & administration , Organizational Policy , Skilled Nursing Facilities/statistics & numerical data , Social SupportABSTRACT
The aging of the U.S. society and the growth in female labor force participation have produced a workplace environment in which eldercare is becoming common. In the context of the employed caregiver, this article reviews the nature of long-term caregiving arrangements, including the onset of long-term care need, the trajectory that such care takes and the means by which most long-term care needs are met. Six specific recommendations are offered for employers to proactively plan for the impact of eldercare in the workplace.