SERVICES FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV
The ALFA Care Services staff members work together to answer questions and help people living with or affected by HIV to connect with community resources and services throughout our nine-county service area – Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Lincoln, Watauga & Wilkes.
INFORMATION, REFERRAL, AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES:
ALFA case managers are available Monday through Friday to provide support, information, and referrals to persons living with HIV in the foothills area of North Carolina. We can assist with things like locating an HIV-friendly dentist, filling out a form for the HIV Medication Assistance Program (HMAP) or Medicare coverage, providing information about grants for home repair, or finding support to combat discrimination based on HIV status. Often we can answer questions quickly and confidentially with just a phone call or brief office visit.
FULL HIV CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES:
For people living with HIV in our service area who have multiple or complex needs, we offer full HIV Case Management services.
Case management often involves services like these:
Case Management begins with an Intake Appointment. This is a detailed, private interview between the HIV-positive person and their case manager – it can take over an hour to complete! The case manager will ask about every aspect of life: physical and mental health, substance use, legal difficulties, housing, family, finances, sexuality – everything that can effect the well-being of a person living with HIV. The client and case manager then work together to create a Care Plan, a list of things that need to be done to reach the client’s goals. In the weeks and months after the Intake Appointment, the case manager works with the client to improve his or her health and life situation. The case manager also works with doctors, counselors, pharmacists, insurers, and other care providers to help the client get the best possible care.
Often, after some time, clients receiving case management reach their goals, stabilize their lives, and can manage on their own. Their case management file is closed at that point, but they are always welcome to come back for information, referral, and supportive services.
Case management often involves services like these:
- Establishment of medical and dental care
- Referral to mental health professionals
- Assistance with obtaining medications
- Help in getting to medical appointments
- Guidance about medical insurance, Medicare and Medicaid
- Educational and social activities
- Grocery vouchers
- Food pantry items
- Emergency financial assistance (rent, mortgage and utilities)
- Referrals to health educators for basic HIV information for clients and their family members
Case Management begins with an Intake Appointment. This is a detailed, private interview between the HIV-positive person and their case manager – it can take over an hour to complete! The case manager will ask about every aspect of life: physical and mental health, substance use, legal difficulties, housing, family, finances, sexuality – everything that can effect the well-being of a person living with HIV. The client and case manager then work together to create a Care Plan, a list of things that need to be done to reach the client’s goals. In the weeks and months after the Intake Appointment, the case manager works with the client to improve his or her health and life situation. The case manager also works with doctors, counselors, pharmacists, insurers, and other care providers to help the client get the best possible care.
Often, after some time, clients receiving case management reach their goals, stabilize their lives, and can manage on their own. Their case management file is closed at that point, but they are always welcome to come back for information, referral, and supportive services.
SERVICES FOR PERSONS LIVING WITH HIV OUTSIDE OUR SERVICE AREA:
Our case managers sometimes receive calls for help and assistance from persons living with HIV outside ALFA’s service area. In these cases, we are happy to provide contact information for our sister HIV/AIDS Service Organizations serving every one of North Carolina’s 100 counties!
If you are living with HIV and believe you may need case management services, please contact ALFA’s Case Management Supervisor by calling 828-322-1447.
If you are living with HIV and believe you may need case management services, please contact ALFA’s Case Management Supervisor by calling 828-322-1447.