HIV/AIDS Supports and Programming

Community-Based Hospice Care Supports for persons of all ages impacted by HIV/AIDS

Providing community hospice care supports for adults and youth living with HIV/AIDS (or those HIV-impacted) in times of short-term crisis and transition, including:

• Personal advocacy for adults and youth through community engagement
• Assist with social services coordination, counseling and facilitated peer support groups for adults
• Volunteer visits to provide psychosocial/spiritual and practical support
• Providing HIV/AIDS education for volunteers and peer support programs within PAC and externally for partnering community agencies and projects
• Medication adherence support for youth
• Connecting to agency supports and disability benefits without status disclosure

In response to the complexities that arise from aging; decades of antiretroviral drugs (ARVs); emerging impacts on vulnerable populations of all ages, our programs are designed with the understanding that while ARV’s allow people to manage and live longer with the virus, they may be experiencing mental and physical health complications. These include side effects of long-term medication use, aging, comorbidities, heightened isolation, stigma and reduced mobility.

Our support groups for persons living with HIV/AIDS offer professional counselling and peer supports which are integral to reducing social isolation and stigma, while increasing a sense of connectedness and well being. The groups offer a safe space to find support, hope, friendship, and opportunities for shared knowledge on managing life with HIV.

For more information please contact our Client Services Department at 416.363.9196, or email [email protected]

With more than 30 years of supporting persons living with HIV/AIDS, you can trust Philip Aziz Centre to care for you.

Special thanks go to FaithWorks/Anglican Diocese of Toronto for supporting the Philip Aziz Centre for Hospice Care and programming for people living with or impacted by HIV/AIDS.

Testimonials/Client Impacts:

Client Impact – PAC Men’s Peer Group 2024: One participant experiences challenges in his relationship with his family and is unable to talk with them, safely share his experiences, or lean on them for support. As with many of our palliative clients, family members are not able to relate to the experiences of the individual with a palliative prognosis, and for clients with HIV/AIDS, often there is a wider gap of relatability and understanding of what the client may be experiencing. A PAC Care Team member accompanied him to court and legal meetings for support. For him, PAC provides a consistent relationship that he can count on in times of difficulty. For this gentleman, during difficult life challenges, PAC was the most reliable, consistent and judgement-free source of support: a friend.

“Everyone assumes that people with HIV/AIDS are fine because they have access to antiviral medication, but that’s not the case for everyone.… Did I tell you my 21-year old client died of cancer?” ~ HIV AIDS Program Manager

 

“I had several side effects from the medication over the years: high blood pressure, liver complication, kidney, you name it, I had it.  I did not know what to do nor what my choices were. If I came off the medications the virus would no longer be suppressed. If I stayed on the medications, I would not function. What are my choices? Did I even have a choice? I am in the state where I have to work, live in constant pain and discomfort, and know that HIV might not be the thing that kills me, but like many others, it might be the complications of these medicines that are supposed to keep me alive.”  ~ PAC Client

“My client is not only palliative, he’s completely blind and prone to seizures. Even though he sits alone most days, and even though he was sad when his dog died, I’ve never seen him depressed. His partner (who works fulltime) told me that he really looks forward to my visits.” ~ from a PAC volunteer who visits a man who is palliative and dealing with comorbidity complications of aging with HIV/AIDS.  The client receives year-round supports through PAC and volunteer visitation.

 “As a person with AIDS, meeting in a very secure quiet environment is very important. Praying and supporting each other is a blessing to me.” ~ PAC Client

 “I understood that I would get a chance to meet with people that were going through the same thing as me.” ~ PAC Client

 “There are others who are holding me up.”  ~ PAC Client

 “Privacy is important to me.” ~ PAC Client

 “Being in a place with no stigma and discrimination is very important to me.” ~ PAC Client

 “The spiritual care group helps me to deal with difficult situations in my life and helps me with mental health.” ~ PAC Client

“I live each day by the grace of God and the support I receive from my support group at the Philip Aziz Centre. I am at a place where I can share my hurt, disappointment, anger and frustration, knowing I would not be judged – that this is a group of people who understand, because their experiences are similar.” ~ PAC Client

 “Even with God, I am struggling. Even with my faith, I’m really struggling. I’m going through the valley. The PAC women’s group is the only thing that keeps me going. This group and my faith. The support and prayers I receive from others who know what I am going through, what I am feeling, my fear … knowing I can share everything, and not be judged … that there are people who I can call on to pray with me.” ~ PAC Client