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Abstract #151564

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H. Dawn Fukuda, ScM, HIV/AIDS Bureau, Health Services Unit, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, 250 Washington Street, 3rd Floor, Boston, MA 02108 and David V. Lessard, BA, HIV/AIDS Bureau, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, 250 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02108, 617-624-5348, david.lessard@state.ma.us.

There are a range of diagnostic and therapeutic resources available today to support people living with HIV to manage chronic infection long term. However, the ability to navigate health care resources may be more challenging for persons facing advanced illness, substance use, mental illness and other co-morbid conditions. The Life Skills Advocacy (LSA) program is a home-based service that supports patients to remain engaged and retained in health care through education, skills building, advocacy and support. The service is offered in conjunction with skilled nursing and in partnership with the client's physician, home health nurse, and family/partners when appropriate. These LSA services include: budgeting, education about safer sex and substance use, laundry, cooking, and emotional support; all provided within a positive prevention and harm reduction framework. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health funds six LSA programs across the state. The program also piloted an on-line “Virtual Support Group” for LSAs to receive supplemental training, discuss patient care approaches, and share referral connections and health promotion strategies. This workshop will present details about the development of this service component, integration with formal medical care services, early successes of this model, and current challenges.

Learning Objectives:

1)Understand the advantages and challenges of the home-based Life Skills Advocate model
• Recognize the connections between the LSA intervention and engagement and retention in medical care. 3)Describe a model for Home based Life Skills Advocacy for persons living with HIV that can be replicated.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Home Based

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

• Slides (pdf) or Handout
• Handout (free access)