AEGiS-13IAC: The Training Hospice - Towards Addressing Appropriate Facilities For The Care Of AIDS Patients.

13th International AIDS Conference


Durban, South Africa - July 9-July 14, 2000

DonateNow
Print this article

The Training Hospice - Towards Addressing Appropriate Facilities For The Care Of AIDS Patients.

Int Conf AIDS 2000 Jul 9-14; 13:(abstract no. ThOrB753)

Bingham K
K. Bingham, University of Natal, King George V Avenue, Glenwood, Durban 4041, South Africa, Tel.: +27 31 260 1192, Fax: +27 31 260 1252, E-mail: binghamk.mc.und@gwise.mc.und.ac.za

ISSUES: Statistical data clearly shows the vast impact HIV/AIDS is having on existing facilities in South Africa. Building types being affected include prisons, street shelters, children's homes, hospitals and mortuaties, hospices and educational facilities, while impact is being felt in terms of housing. Most facilities are ill equipped or inappropriate for the care of their terminal patients and these people are often turned away or sent home without adequate counselling or care. The past role of the Hospice organisation has been largely to care for cancer sufferers. This role is changing.

DESCRIPTION: While a number of means of caring for AIDS patients exist at present, home-based care has proven to be the most cost effective method of dealing with the terminal patients needs. Present numbers of care-givers are inadequate to meet the needs of the epidemic. This paper considers a model for the creation of a facility at which a combination of: a) an educational programme for care-givers (preferably a relative of the patient), where both patient and care-giver spend a few days at the hospice and b) in-patient care on a short-term basis for symptom control. These facilities are supported by spiritual, day-care, counselling and consulting elements.

CONCLUSION: Although a number of training centres for care-givers exist at present in the South Africa, these centres ultimately serve as employment agencies for the placement of their trainees within the homes of tthe terminal. This paper will explore the benefits of training the combination of the care-giver with their patient, while defining appropriate architectural considerations.

Keywords: AEGIS, Hospices, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Home Care Services, Counseling, HIV Infections, Caregivers, Prisons, Family, Neoplasms, Disease Outbreaks, Costs and Cost Analysis, South Africa, Child, Human, education, economicsKWDaegis,hospices,acquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome,homecareservices,counseling,hivinfections,caregivers,prisons,family,neoplasms,diseaseoutbreaks,costsandcostanalysis,southafrica,child,human,education,economics
000709
ThOrB753

Copyright © 2000 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.