Strategies for Volunteers Caring for Persons with AIDS

Abstract

The Gay Men's Health Crisis is the largest volunteer agency in the United States serving gay and nongay persons with AIDS. The psychosocial and sociopolitical characteristics of the AIDS epidemic are outlined. Strategies that sustain and support workers and volunteers in their effort are described.

Gay men as “buddies” to persons living with AIDS and ARC∗

“…The trend that was found to exist between performance on the GHQ and knowing another buddy who has been diagnosed with AIDS, suggests that for this group of buddies there may be some belief that volunteering as a buddy provides some immunity from the development of AIDS, as is suggested by Lopez and Getzel (1987). Downloaded by [] at 00:09 15 May 2015…”

“…Lopez and Getzel (1987) also suggest that volunteers might choose to do this work out of a belief that they themselves will somehow be spared AIDS. This fantasy can be shattered when a member of the buddy team acquires an AIDS diagnosis.…”

“…Nationally 65% of all AIDS cases have been diagnosed in either homosexual or bisexual men (Lopez & Getzel, 1987), and the racial-ethnic distribution of the disease is 60% white, 25% black, 14% Hispanic, and less than 1% Asian. Thus the disease occurs disproportionately among people of color (Thompson, 1987).…”

“…With its heartbreaking roller-coaster "ups and downs," AIDS is not a typical terminal illness with a predictable downhill course, and a support group for buddies can be very helpful in channeling periodic bouts of anger into effective advocacy (Lopez & Getzel, 1987).…”

Can the Development of Palliative Care Services Meet the Needs of People with HIV?

“…At present, individuals needing hospice care have had different characteristics from people with HIV disease. The characteristics of hospice volunteers have also been quite distinct from those of carers of people with HIV disease, the majority of the latter being the same age as the clients and many being gay men (33). It is unclear how many traditional hospices could be effective for people with HIV disease: people on low incomes, IV drug users, gay men, people with mental health problems.…”