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Caring For Someone With AIDS
Other Help You Can Give
Dealing with hospitals or insurance companies, filling out forms,
and looking up records can be difficult even if you are well.
Many people with AIDS need help with these tasks.
- Getting a ride to the doctor's office, clinic, drug store, or
other places can be a problem. Don't wait to be asked, offer
to help.
- Keeping a diary of medical events and other information
for the person you are taking care of can help them and
any other people who are helping. Be sure the person you
are caring for knows what you are writing and they help
keep the diary if they can.
- Keeping a record of medicine and other care for the
doctor or the other people providing care can help a lot.
Make sure you know what drugs the person is taking, how
often they should take them, and what side effects to
watch out for. The doctor, nurse, or pharmacist can tell you
what to do. People who are sick sometimes forget to take
medicine or take too much or too little. Divided pill boxes
or a chart showing what medicines to take, when to take
them, and how much of each to take can help.
- If the person you are caring for has to go into the
hospital, you can still help. Take a special picture or other
favorite things to the hospital. Tell the hospital staff of any
special needs or habits the person has or if you see any
problems. Most of all, visit often.
Go to the the Caring For Someone Menu
Go to the the Caretakers Menu
Go to the HIVpositive.us Main Menu
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