Living with HIV: Understanding and Supporting Patients – A Complete Guide

Here is a little piece about Living with HIV patients from my clinical experience. A story followed by some tips to cope with the critism and panic that comes with HIV.

The cries of a daughter

Shree is one of my regular patients who often visited my clinic seeking medicines for her health issues. Whenever Shree visits, she asks me a thing or two about the health issues of her parents. She shifted to Bengaluru with her husband after marriage.

Her aged parents lived in a village of Maharashtra where medical facilities are not adequate. Her parents often suffered from some or the other sickness.

Being the only daughter, it was her duty to take good care of her parents. She kept calling them to the city but they never agreed to live with their daughter. So, she made frequent visits to her hometown.

Her husband also asked the couple to shift nearby, but building a new life at a new place in old age is not easy!

A sudden blackout

Amidst all these planning and convincing, her parents suddenly started to behave indifferently. They stopped visiting her and even avoided her calls. They gave lame excuses to keep her away from visiting them. This sudden change in their behaviour gave her sleepless nights.

Being HIV

After much persuasion, her parents spelt the truth. Doctors diagnosed them with HIV positive, two years ago in the annual health check-up camp. Her father underwent appendicectomy five years ago( blood transfusion at that time ). He also had multiple dental treatments which they suspect to be the only possible way of getting the virus.

Her parents are very simple people, religious and conservative. The stigma about HIV turned their life to be a curse. Depression and shame troubled them. The couple is not just fighting the virus but the larger battle of combating their suicidal thoughts. 

Discussing their current status, Shree told me that both her parents are on ART (antiretroviral therapy). This is keeping their viral load under control. There are no symptoms except for depression, anxiety and loneliness. Shree wanted to bring her parents to her house but she was also scared for her little children. 

Living with HIV patients

After traversing through multiple sites on the web, she came to me asking for precautions and risks. She was scared if her decision to bring her parents to the city was a good idea!

Her children were very small just 2 and 5 years old and it is difficult for them to understand the situation and take precautions. Hence they needed to be monitored closely around their grandparents.

I educated the family that HIV is spread only through direct contact with body fluids, such as blood, semen, vaginal fluids, and breast milk. It cannot spread through touch or food. Practising basic hygiene and being conscious of the illness is enough to protect one from getting infected. 

Also Read: Ayurvedic Treatment for depression

Precautions for HIV Patient’s Family:  Support and Care

• You can help your parents eat, dress, bathe and in all other activities without becoming infected yourself.
• Wash your hands with soap and water after touching blood.
• Do not share personal items such as razors, toothbrushes or earrings.
• Cover any cuts, sores, or breaks with bandages.
• In sickness, stay away from the person with AIDS.
• However, for children keep a close eye as they should not get in touch with the blood of the infected person.

Living with HIV patients – My Take on it!

I further told her that it is best if her parents try to lead a normal life and live in a homely hospitable environment. Depression, anger, denial are common among HIV patients.

Here, the family has to be calm and supportive. I recommended her to try helping her parents with counselling, family support, support groups and doctor’s consultation. These mental therapy sessions can play a major role in boosting the morale and immunity of HIV patients.

In conclusion, you can live with HIV patients in the same house. All you need is a little empathy and care! The virus won’t you if you don’t come in direct contact with body fluids. But this will help the patient cope.

So, Living with HIV patients is not a big risk after all!