IULH100@INDYVAX.IUPUI.EDU (KELLY C. MYRICK-HAYNES KEANY) (07/26/90)
I am doing research on the effects of Buddy Programs on persons with HIV/AIDS---if having a Buddy has any effect on the HIV progression, on the PWA's quality of life, general disposition, etc. I have found only one article that mentions a Buddy Program; does anyone know of any research that has been done on Buddies, or more generally, any type of social support and HIV/AIDS? Thank you!! Kelly C.M-H. Keany iulh100@indyvax.iupui 7372 Creekbrook Dr. Indianapolis, IN 46227 (317) 783-3252
Marc.Lawrence@f98.n143.z1.fidonet.org (Marc Lawrence) (07/31/90)
<KC> I am doing research on the effects of Buddy Programs on persons with
<KC> HIV/AIDS---if having a Buddy has any effect on the HIV progression, on
<KC> the PWA's quality of life, general disposition, etc.
<KC>
<KC> I have found only one article that mentions a Buddy Program; does
<KC> anyone know of any research that has been done on Buddies, or more
<KC> generally, any type of social support and HIV/AIDS?
Hello KELLY C. MYRICK-HAYNES KEANY.....
Without coming from the position of any documented 'Buddy Program,' how about
just the pure reality of being a FRIEND?
Your remarks, above, remind me of part of a conversation in which I was
involved last evening with a couple of friends who were over my house for
cherry pie and vanilla ice cream. I asked them how an acquaintenance of
their's was doing after his other half passed away due to AIDS about a month
ago. They told me the fellow is doing well, he is trying to keep busy while
still at the same time deal with the loss of the person whom he LOVED the
most in this life; and now he's gone. My two friends told me they
constantly phone the now-alone fellow, they pick him up and take him to
dinner, they take him shopping, and they are just constantly in his life
to help to ease the pain. This is no organized program, this is just the
taking upon one's self to be there for another person. That's what I
think we can also call being a 'BUDDY.'
I know that probably does not answer your question, Kelly, but I want to
point out the other side of the coin that being a Buddy does not
necessarily mean being there for the person who is living with AIDS and
improving his or her quality of life; it also means being there for the
people who are left behind who have to go on living after their loved-one
is gone. The latter deserves a buddy too for all they were to the person
before they past on from this world.
Thank you for asking the question.
Marc
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Uucp: ...{gatech,ames,rutgers}!ncar!asuvax!stjhmc!143!98!Marc.Lawrence
Internet: Marc.Lawrence@f98.n143.z1.fidonet.orgAdam.Selene@f269.n107.z1.fidonet.org (Adam Selene) (08/07/90)
In a nutshell: An AIDS Buddy is a volunteer companion ... really more of a
part time servant than anything else -- and occupies a special role in a PWAs
life, different than that of "real" friends.
+
+ For one thing: "liking" isn't the glue that holds the relationship
together. The PWA doesn't have to ENGRATIATE him/herself to the Buddy ...
or fear that a wrong word or action will result in abandonment. ( A Buddy
can be "relieved" but only after a replacement is actually in place).
+
+ How much and what kind of help a Buddy provides varies from program to
program. But the key to it is "being there" when expected, NO MATTER WHAT.
+
+ The Buddy Programs were originally developed for PWAs who didn't have
well developed personal support systems ... but have been helpful even to
people who DO.
+ (By the way ... if a friend's Buddy seems cold and distant
+ toward family and friends -- it's not uncommon. They're
+ SUPPOSED to keep a little distance from "others" so as to
+ emphasize that they are "there" for their CLENT'S NEEDS, and
+ nothing else. My friend "Dan" found that very reassuring
+ at several points in his illness. However PWAs LOVERS sometimes have
trouble dealing with being shut out of the Buddy-Client relationship, to the
point of feeling "treated like part of the furnature."
+
+ I don't know of any "studies" done on Buddy Programs ... though the
AIDS organizations must think they are of value ... they keep allocating
resources to recruit, train, and place Buddies --
SEEN-BY:
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