Buckingham, Robert W.

Among Friends : Hospice Care for the Person with AIDS

This valuable guide shows how hospice can provide compassionate, palliative care to meet the medical, psychological, and spiritual needs of persons with AIDS and those who love them; it offers a detailed discussion of the history and philosophy of hospice care; the medical challenges and psychological issues involved in the treatment of AIDS patients during the painful, debilitating final stages of the disease; and the costs of medical and pain-relieving care. Hospice is shown to be more attuned to the special needs of AIDS patients as well as far more cost-effective in most cases than acute-care hospitals. Patients, loved ones, and all advocates of the rights and dignity of persons with AIDS will find Among Friends an indispensable resource.