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Home Care - 5.11 Support groups and other linkages
5.11 Support groups and other linkages
During the internal review of the programme in June 1999, the HCTs identified the need to establish support groups for PLHA. To date, six support groups have been established by the HCTs, with a total of approximately 200 members. Many of the members are also involved with home care, and some are Volunteers attached to the HCTs. The evaluation did not talk specifically to the support groups, but discussions with patients, volunteers and the HCTs indicate that the support groups are starting to become an important mechanism for education and psychological care.
While some HCTs are expanding their links within the community, there appears to be no strategic plans for identifying and establishing links with other community-based welfare and support initiatives. This will become increasingly important as the numbers of patients expand and their needs and expectations begin to exceed what the HCTs can provide. As noted earlier in the report, the Volunteers can play a useful role here, given appropriate guidance and support. However, the HCTs are already fully stretched, and while the monthly meetings of the HCNG sometimes address issues of community links, the evaluation recommends that a more formal linking mechanism is established.
It is suggested that the HCNG identifies and funds one or more dedicated Community Liaison Officers, whose responsibility would be to map existing and new community resources, perhaps with the help of the Volunteers, and assist HCTs to facilitate the links between PLHA and these resources.
It is recommended that that HCNG identifies and supports Community Liaison Officers to improve and expand links between HCTs and community-based welfare and support activities.
During the internal review of the programme in June 1999, the HCTs identified the need to establish support groups for PLHA. To date, six support groups have been established by the HCTs, with a total of approximately 200 members. Many of the members are also involved with home care, and some are Volunteers attached to the HCTs. The evaluation did not talk specifically to the support groups, but discussions with patients, volunteers and the HCTs indicate that the support groups are starting to become an important mechanism for education and psychological care.
While some HCTs are expanding their links within the community, there appears to be no strategic plans for identifying and establishing links with other community-based welfare and support initiatives. This will become increasingly important as the numbers of patients expand and their needs and expectations begin to exceed what the HCTs can provide. As noted earlier in the report, the Volunteers can play a useful role here, given appropriate guidance and support. However, the HCTs are already fully stretched, and while the monthly meetings of the HCNG sometimes address issues of community links, the evaluation recommends that a more formal linking mechanism is established.
It is suggested that the HCNG identifies and funds one or more dedicated Community Liaison Officers, whose responsibility would be to map existing and new community resources, perhaps with the help of the Volunteers, and assist HCTs to facilitate the links between PLHA and these resources.
It is recommended that that HCNG identifies and supports Community Liaison Officers to improve and expand links between HCTs and community-based welfare and support activities.