Massachusetts: HIV/AIDS Care Coming to Worcester

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) opened a home-based care program for HIV/AIDS patients in Worcester on Wednesday. Diversified Home Services Comprehensive Home Health Care Program began served patients in Fitchburg and Leominster 10 years ago, offering nursing, mental health care and complex clinical treatment in the home. Worcester is the sixth state site to offer the DPH-funded initiative. Such care is considered essential for helping patients avoid unnecessary hospitalizations and allowing them to remain in their communities.

At the program's opening, David Lessard of the DPH AIDS bureau said the outreach, with its nursing and life skills component, is unique in its services. The program is offered at no cost and will serve up to 25 clients at any given time. It is associated with HealthAlliance Hospital, a member of UMass Memorial Health Care.

"We held this grant for the Leominster-Fitchburg area for many years, and then upon the request of the DPH they asked us to take over the program for Worcester," said Mary Lourdes Burke, vice president of planning and marketing for HealthAlliance Hospital.

Jo Fontaine, the program's supervisor, said the main goal is to improve the quality of life for people living with HIV/AIDS while preventing further spread of the virus. "We do that through positive prevention and harm reduction principles," she said. Home visits can include drug and alcohol abuse services, deliveries from local food banks, medication deliveries, counseling on disclosure issues, and treatment adherence services. "Participation is confidential," Fontaine said. "Clients are treated with dignity and respect."

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