**8. Psychological support**

People living with HIV face different aspects of psychological problems that require different forms of support [9, 14, 15]. These include:


### **9. Psychosocial and spiritual support**

People living with HIV need psychological and spiritual support critically important for coping with the overwhelming feelings and the threat of death. Psychological support helps people living with HIV to adapt to the disease and its complications. People living with HIV should disclose and involve in networking to get support from family, peers, and support groups. A multidisciplinary team is needed to address various concerns of people living with HIV. Psychosocial support for people living with HIV should also address finances, housing, and assistance with daily living. Spiritual support helps them to understand the meaning of life and improves belief and their faith. Spiritual support is also considered as resources for self-managing for these category populations [15, 16].

## **10. Support for the caregivers**

Caregivers are frequently feeling anxious or have problems with sleeping, as the person they care for comes closer to the end of life. Mild psychological

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*Palliative Care in HIV/AIDS*

support [9, 14, 15].

**11. Preparing for death**

their caregivers [9, 15].

following benefits:

survival.

hospital inpatient days.

• It reduces overall cost of disease [15].

ing palliative care programmes [9, 15].

**13. Establishing palliative care programme**

**12. Benefits of palliative care**

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.85847*

distress is usually relieved by emotional support from health workers by explaining the physical and psychological symptoms and challenging beliefs about death and dying. Through palliative care application, healthcare providers can reassure the caregivers and that you can give them more information and

Preparing for death starts with effective communication with the family. Starting to talk on distressing concern helps both the families and the patients regard will, care of families, and related costs. Discussing sensitively about dying and grief reaction is an important aspect of care for people living with HIV and

The benefits of palliative care are numerous which include the impact of palliative care on physical, emotional, social, and spiritual well-being. Managing symptoms affects overall functioning and plays a role in supporting ART adherence along with engagement and retention in HIV care. Palliative care as a complement to other care may contribute to a comprehensive HIV treatment. It is also a cost-effective approach that helps to reduce disease burden. Routine implementation of palliative care could contribute to manage complications and, thereby, enhance overall HIV care [18, 19]. It improves the outcome for patients with HIV and may complement antiretroviral treatment by increasing adherence through better management of side effects from the treatment, providing holistic and end-of-life care when necessary. Overall, palliative care will provide the

• It promotes better health outcomes, adherence, and retention and prolongs

• It causes patients to spend more time at home and reduces the number of

The World Health Organization recommends three important programmes for effective national palliative care programme such as policies, education, and availability of drugs. Government policies must be placed to support palliative care. For the healthcare providers and other concerned palliative care, education must be available. Finally, for the management of pain and other symptoms, appropriate medications must be available. These three programmes are essential for establish-

• It improves quality of life of patient and families.

• It provides patient, family, and caretakers satisfaction.

#### *Palliative Care in HIV/AIDS DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.85847*

distress is usually relieved by emotional support from health workers by explaining the physical and psychological symptoms and challenging beliefs about death and dying. Through palliative care application, healthcare providers can reassure the caregivers and that you can give them more information and support [9, 14, 15].
