Hiv Patients And Case Managers During End Of Life Experience

HIV Patients and Case Managers during End of Life Experience Jennifer R. Molestina Albizu University April 2015 Abstract As researchers develop more and more treatments for HIV that improve patients quality of living and extend their lives, it is necessary to remember the importance of pain control, symptom management, excellent communication, and psychosocial support from time of diagnosis to time of death. Case managers must remember the fact (and prepare themselves accordingly) that, despite their best efforts, patients with HIV infection will eventually die and that helping prepare them and their loved ones for that eventuality is an important part of caregiving. Ultimately, all treatments for chronic and incurable†¦show more content†¦What is crucial for these patients is to relieve pain, helping them psychologically, spiritually and socially enable them and their caregivers to work through their pain, emotions and grief. The course of HIV/AIDS is very unpredictable, with many symptoms and alternating period of episodes of acute illness that being said, palliative care for HIV/AIDS is a balance between acute treatment and attending control of chronic symptoms and conditions. There is a wide range of treatments available for patients with this illness, but their high cost means they are not available to most patients especially in developing countries. As HIV/AIDS is so broad, we are going to concentrate on talking about how a case manager can provide social support to these patients and their families. People living with HIV/AIDS experience emotional and psychiatric problems for many reasons, but their quality of life can be improved when health workers, family members and carers understand these problems and support the patients that are experimenting them. Depression is common, sometimes can be treated with counseling alone, but if the symptoms are severe, treatment with anti-depressants drugs is needed, it is very important to address these symptoms and to have a professional make a recommendation because people living with HIV/AIDS may consider suicide. Anxiety is also a common symptom in people with advanced HIV