PROVIDENCE – AIDS Project Rhode Island announced its revitalization of its Buddy Program, also known as WellSpring, which provides compassionate mental, emotional and spiritual services for individuals living with HIV or AIDS.
Created in 1984 to help individuals dying from AIDS who were isolated and often rejected by their families, the program recruited volunteer buddies to escort AIDS Project Rhode Island’s clients to medical appointments, shop for them, care for their pets and offer general life support, as they were often too weak or ill to care for themselves without help.
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The program ceased in 2008, given lack of funding and declining interest; now, however, as individuals can now live with – rather than die from – AIDS, there’s a renewed interest in and need for this program, which is funded with an R.I. Department of Health grant.
“There are plenty of programs designed to help people living with HIV/AIDS, but this is different.” Stephen Hourahan, executive director, AIDS Project Rhode Island, said in a statement. “Because of the stigma attached to HIV/AIDS, many of our clients [will] experience isolation and loneliness in their daily lives.”
Given that, the Buddy Program will offer companionship and care to the nonprofit organization’s most vulnerable clients, said Hourahan.
“Our staff and volunteers will help with everyday tasks that become more difficult for many clients as they age and their health declines. The emotional support that the volunteers provide is another critical aspect that can help ease the burden when battling this disease,” Hourahan said.
“As my patients have taught me time and time again, the love and support of family and friends can be just as important as the clinical care that those living with HIV/AIDS receive. WellSpring will absolutely help bring that love and support into people’s lives,” DOH Director Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott said in the statement. “Similar to [DOH’s] peer-based advocates program, WellSpring will connect people to buddies who offer emotional support and assistance with everyday tasks to maintain well-being. WellSpring will be a vital part of Rhode Island’s work toward our ambitious 90-90-90 targets. We are working tirelessly across the state to ensure that, by 2020, 90 percent of Rhode Islanders living with HIV know their HIV status, are engaged in care and have a suppressed viral load.”
Companionship and understanding can be crucial to affected individuals’ health and wellbeing, so volunteers will assist with medical appointments and other daily activities that may become overwhelming to an individual with HIV/AIDS. Through WellSpring, those living with HIV/AIDS will have access to individual and group counseling, nutritional support and other relevant community resources.
To seek services or for information about volunteering, call AIDS Project Rhode Island at (401) 831-5522 and ask for the Buddy Program coordinator.
Nancy Kirsch is a PBN contributing writer.
