Understanding the Whole Person
The Laguna Honda Positive Care program is the only HIV/AIDS skilled nursing program in the San Francisco Bay Area.
With an experienced team of nurses, doctors, social workers, therapeutic specialists and dietitians, the Positive Care program provides 24-hour support for a diverse community of men and women living with HIV and AIDS. Our team designs individualized plans that provide a comprehensive approach to medical, social, emotional, and cognitive challenges.
We apply intensive, highly skilled nursing with the goal of maximizing functional independence and enabling a return to lower levels of care in other community settings whenever possible.
Specialized Treatment for AIDS Dementia
We offer a pioneering program for people grappling with the mild to severe cognitive difficulties that can accompany an AIDS diagnosis. Our dementia care enhances quality of life by providing sensory stimulation through daily activities, supporting increased social interaction, and emphasizing personal safety. In addition to clinical care, it incorporates skilled touch, music and art therapy, acupuncture and aroma therapy.
Building Community
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| Wedding of Positive Care Residents in the Laguna Honda Courtyard |
The Laguna Honda model of care centers on community-building. Through regular rituals such as a morning coffee hour, daily music and art programs, support groups and communal dining, the program builds community living skills and boosts personal confidence.
It also emphasizes the therapeutic effects of interaction with nature by providing a secure garden where residents can plant and tend flowers and vegetables.
The program pays particular attention to marking the milestones in the lives of its residents. An established ritual marks the passing of residents who complete their lives while they live at Laguna Honda, and during the brief period when same-sex marriage was legal in California, the entire Laguna Honda community celebrated the wedding of two Positive Care residents.
Our community-building does not end when residents complete treatment and move elsewhere in the community. We welcome former residents who return as volunteers and — as one former resident put it — “bring a message of hope.”
