AIDS caregiving crisis: a proactive approach

Within the next few years, it is very likely that AIDS will personally affect almost everyone in the United States in some manner. A relative, neighbor, friend, acquaintance, or coworker may develop AIDS. It is estimated that 1 to 1.5 million people in the United States are presently infected with the human immunodeficiency virus and may develop AIDS. AIDS is, indeed, a major public health problem. With the high cost of hospital care, home care is an effective health care alternative for people with AIDS. Obviously, people feel more comfortable in their own homes. Professional home care services are available for many people with AIDS but cannot always meet their needs 24 hours a day. The Home Nursing Course for Caregivers of Persons With AIDS is an example of an effective way to begin to deal with the present and future caregiving crisis. Nurses serve as both teachers and role models while presenting the course. This type of course presents a challenge for nurses to use their knowledge, experiences, and creativity to continue to address AIDS and other health care crises in similar ways.