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While I understand the ideology behind wanting to create in people the willingness to take care of themselves, I know the reality is, if I offer some food for a support group, I will get a greater response. It has nothing to do with numbers, as in making my contract with the Feds. (We are not funded for support group) It has to do with saturation of knowledge, relationships, and even an unwitting acceptance of all the good stuff that comes in a support group, beyond the incentives. Get them to test, attend a support group and you can reach them in other ways. So what if they don't give a hoot about their health? That speaks volumes because when you are homeless, without food, without a way to get around town the last worry, concern you have is to take care of your health. By offering incentives we can make it more of a priority and get them plugged into the system. Without these incentives, they are still living with the virus and just don't know it until they end up in the ER. Then whose resources are they tapping into? Everyones! As far as distributing resources, we at our agency look at it as removing barriers to testing, treatment etc. We know that when you have stable housing, your HIV health is usually better. But if we are simply throwing these resources at PLWH/A without helping them sustain the environment, we are negligent in our service. There will always be people who see this as a free ride, but that is the culture of poverty. We have created a community of people who survive in any way they can. I think that a young man who has the savvy to work the HIV system in such a nonchalant way has deeper issues and may be covering up his shame, fear etc by appearing as if he has the world at his feet. But don't be so harsh on incentives, they work! They serve a purpose and as far as I'm concerned, that purpose is worth it.
I was diagnosed on 4/1/04, and I had no health insurance at the time. I was freaking out and didn't know what to do, I was told by many to set my residency up in NY so I can take advantage of the benefits, I live in PA right now. I decided to wait, got insurance and started going to the doctors, even with insurance I was spending about 3-4,000 per year on testing. I started meds in 2008, Christmas Eve, and my cost increased due to the meds. But it was managable. I lost my job in 2010, and had no where to turn. I found a place, the only place in 3 counties here in PA that could help, so my meds were taken care of. My doctor since 2004 is in NJ and PA wanted me to change my doctor to a PA doctor. My viral load and t-cells are not ever normal. My viral load since starting the meds, Atripla (one pill), has become undetecable but my t-cells continued to jump around. I didn't want to change doctors and was lucky enough that my doctor decided to give me a huge discount and charge me only $50 per visit. With everything I have been through and am still going through, my t-cells just came in at 850 and viral load undetecable(below 20). I am moving to AZ and now have to find a great doctor again. I must say that I see how people just don't care about their status/health. Since diagnosed, I found out that a few of my friends were classified as AIDS and have since died because they didn't take care of themselves. I just can't wrap my brain around not caring.
pls take care of yourself ....as in dis stage u need to have care ,affection...bt hw many r lucky to get dis....people still hav to spread and educate alot......
I think there is a lot of truth in what you say and can attest to some similar experiences although I would say they are still a tiny minority among the folks recently learning their HIV+ status. Also, I suspect that this Oh-it's-no-big-deal posture may be at least partly an act that the person is putting on for himself. That said, I agree that this is an area that requires further honest dialogue and reflection among service providers. And it also says something about how hard our society has made it for people to have a normal life if so many people think getting HIV is an okay way to obtain basic survival needs.
I live in one of the few areas that rivals NYC's HIV support system (SF Bay Area), and living with HIV/AIDS isn't the cushy, comfortable free ride that young man seems to think it is. But on the other hand maybe he can't find a way to live which pays enough to put a roof over his head, food in his belly and pay for health coverage any other way but by having HIV. If so that's a damning indictment of the culture we've created. I remember when Wal-Mart came to Oakland they had 14,000 applicants for around 1,200 positions. I don't have an answer to the jobs problem but I'm aware it exists. Also, being idled is incredibly soul-crushing; when you feel you don't contribute and others don't value your presence it's devastating. Even a dishwasher commands respect as a worker.
I have been on disability for four years now after receiving my HIV/AIDS diagnosis. I have been working on getting another degree so I can go back to work. There is nothing like being a contributor to society not a drain on society. Since my diagnosis I have lost all my hair on my body, deal with constant rashes that have left my body scared and unattractive. I have felt isolated and lost many friends. There is no advantage to having this virus. I encourage anyone with this virus to move on with life in all circumstances. Become an advocate for those that live with this chronic deadly disease. HIV is not an opportunity to take advantage of society it is a call to give more back. Peter
SMF
I have to speak on Dan Faasse behalf, being he has been positive and that I have been with him since the beginning of his findings. I didn't realize how much he was worried about things, and he has never indicated friends of his that have had HIV and died, although he keeps his friends and that part of his life a secret from me as if I am his enemy. I love him dearly, and hope that one day he will find true happiness even if it is not with me.
November 6, 2012