Life Skills Advocate, HIV Home Care Model

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.