If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with HIV (the human immunodeficiency virus) or AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome), obtaining the right care and support to manage the disease, adjust your lifestyle and prevent complications can help you stay as healthy as possible. The Visiting Nurse Service of New York can help you better understand these diagnoses, so you can improve your ability to manage symptoms and get the emotional support you need. 

Understanding HIV/AIDS

HIV is a virus that causes AIDS, and is transmitted through sexual contact, blood transfusions, needle sharing, or from mother to child during pregnancy or breast-feeding. HIV infects and causes severe damage to a person’s immune system, making it harder for the body to fight off life-threatening infections and cancers. While there is no cure for an HIV infection, the condition can be treated to prevent complications and delay the progression to AIDS, the final stage of HIV infection.

Your doctor will suggest lifestyle modifications and prescribe antiviral drugs to help your immune system recover from HIV infection and improve T-cell counts. VNSNY can help you manage your treatment plan and deal with side effects or complications.

How VNSNY Can Help

Our professional staff can help you manage HIV or AIDS at home. Our services include:

• Helping you to determine how and when to take your medications and deal with side effects
• Providing answers to your questions about the disease process, other infections that may occur, or your drug regimen
• Helping you to manage complications or symptoms, such as diarrhea, shortness of breath, or skin problems
• Helping you to find emotional support within your community