As HIV/AIDS medications have improved, Maitri’s mission and care have evolved to meet the needs of our residents.
While we maintain our hospice program, since the early 2000s, every year we serve more and more people who come to us for short-term medical respite care.
At Maitri, care means more than just medical support. Every resident has access to our interdisciplinary team, which works to meet them where they are and help them reach their individual health goals.
We do this because we know that our clients increasingly come to us facing complicated issues that need to be addressed on multiple levels. In fact in 2022, nearly 70% of our clients came to us triply diagnosed with disabling HIV/AIDS, mental health disorder(s), and substance use disorder.
Just one of these issues can present a large barrier to independence that would be difficult for someone to overcome alone. Compounded, they can lead people to homelessness or institutionalization if left untreated.
That’s why when people first come to Maitri they meet with every member of our care team and help create their own goals, no matter how pie in the sky they might seem.
Our Maitri staff therapist is able to help people address barriers to their independence, or develop new habits and ways of coping with the stress of life. She even leads a weekly harm reduction group to help people reduce and stop substance use.
In conjunction with this, our clinical team lead group therapy sessions 5 days a week to help people process their emotions, tackle grief, or address issues that have come up while living at Maitri. On Fridays, we hold a beloved “Pizza Group” where current and former residents come together to find company and strength with each other.
Finally, our social worker is dedicated to ensuring clients have access to the benefits they’re entitled to, connect them to community programs they’re eligible for, and support them meeting their goals.
While our care has evolved in the past 35 years, our dedication to compassion and ensuring our clients have the care they deserve is unchanged.