Where Women Have No Doctor - A Health Guide for Women (Hesperian Foundation, 1997, 600 p.): Chapter 17: AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome): Caring for Someone Who Is Near Death

Where Women Have No Doctor - A Health Guide for Women (Hesperian Foundation, 1997, 600 p.)

Chapter 17: AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)

		(introduction...)
		What Are HIV and AIDS?
		Why HIV and AIDS Are Different for Women
		Preventing HIV/AIDS
		The HIV Test
		Living Positively with HIV and AIDS
		Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Breastfeeding
		Care for Persons with AIDS
		Staying Healthy for as Long as Possible
		Common Medical Problems
		Caring for Someone Who Is Near Death
		Working for Change

Caring for Someone Who Is Near Death

At some point there is nothing more that can be done for a person with AIDS. You may know this time has come when:

· the body starts to fail.
· medical treatment is no longer effective or is not available.
· the person says she is ready to die.

If the sick person wants to remain at home, you can help her die with dignity by:

· giving comfort.
· having family and friends stay with her.
· allowing her to make decisions.
· helping her prepare for death. It may help her to talk about death, about fears of dying, and about worries for the family’s future. It does not help to act as if she is not dying. Assure her that you will do what you can to prevent pain and discomfort. Talk about funeral arrangements if she wishes.

Figure

As she nears death, she may be unconscious, stop eating, breathe very slowly or very fast and unevenly, stop passing urine, or lose control of passing urine or stool.

Care of the body of someone who has died of AIDS

The AIDS virus can live up to 24 hours in a person’s body after death. During that time, take the same precautions with the body as you did when the person was alive.