Many people find dealing with the practical aspects of having HIV infection almost as troublesome as the infection itself.
People worry about money; about confidentiality; about dealing with the legal, medical, and social service systems; about writing wills; about removing burdens from those they love; about the possibility of becoming incompetent.
Such questions about practical matters are generally best answered by two categories of professionals.One category is composed of social workers. Social workers are found in most community agencies that deal with HIV infection: mental health centers, state and local social service agencies, AIDS-advocacy organizations, some churches, and virtually all hospitals. Hospital social workers also understand the medical system and can help you navigate it. Their job is usually to help you make plans for the short term, especially plans for leaving the hospital and returning home (see chapter 7).
The other category is composed of lawyers. To find a lawyer, check with people you know who have lawyers they trust, with your state’s bar association, or with local AIDS-advocacy agencies. Related professionals (these are often lawyers, too) handle complaints about discrimination. They can be found in your state’s human relations or civil rights commission. Check in the telephone book’s yellow or blue pages under the name of your state, or under social service organizations. Or get in touch with the American Bar Association’s AIDS Coordination Project, which, among other services, publishes a free, downloadable booklet called The Directory of Legal Resources for People with HIV/AIDS from its Web site, www.abanet.org/AIDS/home.html. You can also reach the organization at 740 15th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005-1009; or at 1-202-662-1030 or 1-202-662-1025.