Diana Mangsen, RN, BSN¹, Rhonda Bundy, Life Skills Advo¹, and Carolina Figueroa, Life Skills Advo². (1) Healthy Directions, Diversified Visiting Nurse Association, The Cottage, 375 Nichols Road, Fitchburg, MA 01420, 978-348-1702, Diana@DVNA.org, (2) River Valley Counseling CTR Inc., 207 Elm Street, Holyoke, MA 01040

Home visit services transcend the access barriers that individuals with complex medical, social and mental health problems experience. Our typical client's day is filled with personal crisis and is often spent in survival mode. Many of them lack even minimal family or social support. for them, negotiating the tasks of daily living is difficult and overwhelming while navigating the health care system is insurmountable. Tragically, the results are the continued spread of HIV, poor quality of life for those living with HIV/AIDS and poor prognoses and outcomes.

Diversified Home Services, Inc has been providing grant funded home health services to people with HIV/AIDS since 1986 and has been able to modify service delivery in response to trends in the virus and the needs of clients. Our Life Skills Advocates' work is focused on positive prevention, access to care and services, and proactive referrals. The effectiveness of our program is well evident among our clients who demonstrate forward movement in healthier directions.

The Life Skills Advocate builds a relationship with the client based on dignity, respect and care. We have found the Life Skills Advocate's role to be instrumental to the overall success of our clients. Our Life Skills Advocate was the first in Massachusetts and the role is now being replicated at River Valley Counseling CTR Inc. in Holyoke Mass. The presentation will be a collaborative effort of the Life Skills Advoates from both agencies.

Learning Objectives:

• -Participants will gain knowledge of effective home care delivery
• -participants will identify strategies for positive prevention and proactive referrals
• -participants will recognize the Community health Worker "Life Skills Advocate" role as key to preventing the spread of HIV and improving the quality of life for those people living with HIV/AIDS

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Home Care

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.