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Home Care - 1.2.1 Comprehensive Care Across the Continuum
1.2.1 Comprehensive Care Across the Continuum
In an effort to address this issue WHO and others have, for the past decade, been promoting the concept of “Comprehensive Care Across the Continuum”. This approach aims to link a network of providers and services to comprehensively address the care needs of PLHA and their caregivers in a range of environments. Comprehensive care should also include referrals between home or community and the hospital, and vice versa, effective discharge planning, and appropriate follow-up. As far as possible, the approach should consist of four interrelated elements (6) :-
The continuum of care was envisaged as a dynamic set of support services that PLHA and their families can access. It should be noted that this is an idealised situation; the approach adopted in a particular country will depend on the prevailing needs of patients and the realities of health care provision.
Footnotes
(6) Osborne et al. "Models of care for patients with HIV/AIDS". AIDS 11, 1997
In an effort to address this issue WHO and others have, for the past decade, been promoting the concept of “Comprehensive Care Across the Continuum”. This approach aims to link a network of providers and services to comprehensively address the care needs of PLHA and their caregivers in a range of environments. Comprehensive care should also include referrals between home or community and the hospital, and vice versa, effective discharge planning, and appropriate follow-up. As far as possible, the approach should consist of four interrelated elements (6) :-
- Clinical Management, including early diagnosis and rational treatment of HIV-related illnesses and follow-up care
- Nursing Care to promote and maintain hygiene, nutrition and infection control, to provide palliative care and health education to home carers
- Counselling, including psychosocial support to PLHA and their families, to reduce stress and anxiety, to promote positive living and risk reduction strategies, and to empower individuals to make informed choices for their futures
- Social Support, including material assistance, information and referral, linking into support groups and services.
The continuum of care was envisaged as a dynamic set of support services that PLHA and their families can access. It should be noted that this is an idealised situation; the approach adopted in a particular country will depend on the prevailing needs of patients and the realities of health care provision.
Footnotes
(6) Osborne et al. "Models of care for patients with HIV/AIDS". AIDS 11, 1997