Therapeutic Lying as a Non-Pharmacological and Person-Centered Approach in Dementia for Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia.

The acceptance and ethics behind therapeutic lying (TL) as a non-pharmacological intervention for behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) among persons with dementia continues to generate heated debates. This article presents a discussion of the ethical and cultural challenges on the perception of TL by people with dementia, their families, and health care professionals. Additionally, decision-making before TL was analyzed, including the types of TL, its efficacy and implications, alternatives to TL, and the ethical principles behind it. The results from this analysis show that TL is a common practice for BPSD. Its benefits include the reduction of these symptoms as well as the use of physical or chemical restraints. However, there is no consensus on its suitability as an approach, nor on the appropriate way it should be used. More experimental studies are needed to create legal and clinical intervention protocols that respect the fundamental rights of people with dementia promoting coherence, good ethical practices, and guidelines for person-centered care.

Multicomponent Staff Training Intervention to Improve Residential Dementia Care (PROCUIDA-Demencia): A Mixed-Methods 2-Arm Cluster Randomized Controlled Pilot and Clinical Outcomes Study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the feasibility outcomes of implementing a multicomponent staff training intervention (PROCUIDA-Demencia) to promote psychosocial interventions and reduce antipsychotic prescription in Mexican care homes and study its effect on staff's care experience and residents' quality of life. DESIGN: A mixed-methods 2-arm cluster randomized controlled pilot study of a 2-day staff training program with baseline, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks of the PROCUIDA-Demencia intervention vs treatment as usual (TAU). SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Eight care homes in Mexico City were selected, from which 55 residents and 126 staff were recruited. INTERVENTION: In situ staff training consisting of evidence-based manualized psychosocial interventions of person-centered activities, reminiscence therapy, doll therapy, psychomotor dance therapy, and antipsychotic prescription review. Fidelity to protocol was supervised once a week. METHODS: Cluster-level feasibility measures included views of staff, residents, and relatives on acceptability, satisfaction, adherence, and fidelity to the intervention. Staff outcome measures were Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), Approaches to Dementia Questionnaire, and Sense of Competence in Dementia Care Staff. Residents' outcome measures included Quality of Life-Alzheimer's Disease scale (QoL-AD), and Neuropsychiatric Inventory-Nursing Home Version (NPI-NH). Staff distress was measured using the NPI-NH occupational disturbance scale. Feasibility was elicited through a focus group, and hierarchical linear mixed effects models were used to assess the adjusted effects of the respective measures. RESULTS: Observed medical practice showed the prescription of at least 1 antipsychotic in 41% of participants in the intervention group. Overall, 39% of residents reported discontinuation, and 15% reduction of antipsychotics, following the 12-week medical review in parallel with psychosocial interventions. Clinical outcomes contributed positively to the reduction in baseline staff burden according to the MBI after the intervention [mean difference -8.9, 95% confidence interval (CI) -17.7, -0.1, P = .049] and to the reduction in severity and frequency of behavior as per NPI-NH in residents (mean difference -9.4, 95% CI -17.5, -1.3, P = .025). CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: PROCUIDA-Demencia is a feasible intervention for Mexican care homes. Results contribute to the Mexican Dementia Plan optimizing dementia care by supporting the need for staff training to implement psychosocial interventions prior to prescribing antipsychotic medication.

Advances in Genetics and Epigenetic Alterations in Alzheimer's Disease: A Notion for Therapeutic Treatment.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a disabling neurodegenerative disorder that leads to long-term functional and cognitive impairment and greatly reduces life expectancy. Early genetic studies focused on tracking variations in genome-wide DNA sequences discovered several polymorphisms and novel susceptibility genes associated with AD. However, despite the numerous risk factors already identified, there is still no fully satisfactory explanation for the mechanisms underlying the onset of the disease. Also, as with other complex human diseases, the causes of low heritability are unclear. Epigenetic mechanisms, in which changes in gene expression do not depend on changes in genotype, have attracted considerable attention in recent years and are key to understanding the processes that influence age-related changes and various neurological diseases. With the recent use of massive sequencing techniques, methods for studying epigenome variations in AD have also evolved tremendously, allowing the discovery of differentially expressed disease traits under different conditions and experimental settings. This is important for understanding disease development and for unlocking new potential AD therapies. In this work, we outline the genomic and epigenomic components involved in the initiation and development of AD and identify potentially effective therapeutic targets for disease control.

PTPN22 gene functional polymorphism (rs2476601) in older adults with frailty syndrome.

The frailty syndrome is a common clinical marker of vulnerability in older adults conducive to an overall decline in inflammatory stress responsiveness; yet little is known about the genetic risk factors for frailty in elderly. Our aim was to investigate the association between the rs2476601 polymorphism in PTPN22 gene and susceptibility to frailty in Mexican older adults. Data included 630 subjects 70 and older from The Coyoacán cohort, classified as frail, pre-frail, and non-frail following Fried's criteria. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were compared between groups at baseline and after a multivariate analysis. The rs2476601 polymorphism was genotyped by TaqMan genotyping assay using real-time PCR and genotype frequencies were determined for each frailty phenotype in all participants and subsets by age range. Genetic association was examined using stratified and interaction analyses adjusting for age, sex and variables selected in the multivariate analysis. Disability for day-life activities, depression and cognitive impairment were associated with the risk of pre-frailty and frailty at baseline and after adjustment. Carrying the T allele increased significantly the risk of frailty in patients 76 and older (OR 5.64, 95% CI 4.112-7.165) and decreased the risk of pre-frailty under no clinical signs of depression (OR 0.53; 95% CI 0.17-1.71). The PTPN22 polymorphism, rs2476601, could be a genetic risk factor for frailty as subject to quality of life. This is the first study analyzing such relationship in Mexican older adults. Confirming these findings requires additional association studies on wider age ranges in populations of older adults with frailty syndrome.

Association Between Frailty and Elder Abuse in Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Mexico City.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association between frailty and elder abuse in community-dwelling older adults. DESIGN: Secondary cross-sectional analysis of a prospective cohort. SETTING: The Frailty, Dynapenia and Sarcopenia in Mexican Adults study, a cohort of community-dwelling adults from 2 municipalities in Mexico City. PARTICIPANTS: Community-dwelling adults aged 60 and older (N=487, mean age 73.2 ± 8.0, 80% female). MEASUREMENTS: Elder abuse was assessed using the Geriatric Mistreatment Scale and frailty using the Frailty Phenotype. Abuse was then classified as total abuse (any subtype), conflict abuse (physical, psychological, sexual abuse), financial abuse, and caregiver neglect. Information was also obtained on sociodemographic characteristics, comorbidities, mental status, nutritional status, disability, and polypharmacy. RESULTS: Prevalence of total abuse was 35.7%. Frailty was associated with total abuse (odds ratio (OR)=2.52, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.22-5.21, p=.01) and conflict abuse (OR=2.50, 95% CI=1.18-5.33, p=.02) after adjusting for confounders but not with financial abuse or caregiver neglect. Depression was an effect modifier in the association between frailty and total abuse. Frailty was associated with total abuse in participants with depression (OR=5.23, 95% CI=1.87-14.56, p=.002) but not in those without (OR=0.55, 95% CI=0.10-2.87, p=.47). CONCLUSION: Frailty is associated with total and conflict abuse in community-dwelling older adults. Further studies are needed to elucidate the effect of frailty on elder abuse and investigate the effectiveness of interventions for primary and secondary prevention.

Psychometric properties of the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS): secondary analysis of the Mexican Health and Aging Study.

BACKGROUND: The Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) has been widely used and has proven to be a valid and reliable instrument for assessing satisfaction with life in diverse population groups, however, research on satisfaction with life and validation of different measuring instruments in Mexican adults is still lacking. The objective was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) in a representative sample of Mexican adults. METHODS: This is a methodological study to evaluate a satisfaction with life scale in a sample of 13,220 Mexican adults 50 years of age or older from the 2012 Mexican Health and Aging Study. The scale's reliability (internal consistency) was analysed using Cronbach's alpha and inter-item correlations. An exploratory factor analysis was also performed. Known-groups validity was evaluated comparing good-health and bad-health participants. Comorbidity, perceived financial situation, self-reported general health, depression symptoms, and social support were included to evaluate the validity between these measures and the total score of the scale using Spearman's correlations. RESULTS: The analysis of the scale's reliability showed good internal consistency (α = 0.74). The exploratory factor analysis confirmed the existence of a unique factor structure that explained 54% of the variance. SWLS was related to depression, perceived health, financial situation, and social support, and these relations were all statistically significant (P < .01). There was significant difference in life satisfaction between the good- and bad-health groups. CONCLUSIONS: Results show good internal consistency and construct validity of the SWLS. These results are comparable with results from previous studies. Meeting the study's objective to validate the scale, the results show that the Spanish version of the SWLS is a reliable and valid measure of satisfaction with life in the Mexican context.

VNTR polymorphisms of the IL-4 and IL-1RN genes and their relationship with frailty syndrome in Mexican community-dwelling elderly.

Inflammation is a key event that is closely associated with the pathophysiology of frailty. The relationship of genetic polymorphisms into inflammatory cytokines with frailty remains poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between VNTR polymorphisms of the IL-4 and IL-1RN genes with the risk of frailty. We included a sample of 630 community-dwelling elderly aged 70 and older. Both IL-4 and IL-1RN VNTR polymorphisms were genotyped by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. Mean age was 77.7 years (SD = 6.0) and 52.5 % were women. The participants classified as frail were more likely to be older, had lower MMSE score (p < 0.001), and had more disability for IADL (p < 0.001) and ADL (p < 0.001). Genotypic and allelic frequencies for the IL-4 VNTR polymorphism did not show significant differences between study groups (p > 0.05). However, we just observed a significant difference in the allelic frequencies for the A2 allele of the IL-1RN VNTR polymorphism between frail and nonfrail groups (OR 1.84, 95 % CI 1.08-3.12, p = 0.02). In addition, we analyzed the combined effect of the IL-4 and IL-1RN VNTR polymorphisms and their possible association with frailty, where the combined IL-4 (low) -IL-1Ra (high) genotype was identified as a marker of risk to frailty syndrome (OR 7.86, 95 % CI 1.83-33.69, p = 0.006). Our results suggest that both A2 allele and the combined IL-4 (low) -IL-1Ra (high) genotype might be genetic markers of susceptibility to frailty in Mexican elderly.

Tele-care and tele-alarms for the elderly: preliminary experiences in Mexico.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the effect of a pilot program of tele-assistance and tele-alarms on the elderly's self-perception of health status and to identify the satisfaction with and acceptance of the program. METHODS: Cross-sectional study that included interviews with 378 elderly individuals, 294 caretakers/relatives and 53 health care professionals. The program was run in Mexico City in 2010. The variables were socio-demographic characteristics, self-rated health, satisfaction and acceptance of the program. The information was gathered through a standardized questionnaire. The statistical analysis included descriptive analysis and nonparametric tests. RESULTS: Significant effects on self-perception of health were observed, 6.17 (SD 17.9 p < 0.05) points above the average. The program was well received and accepted by the elderly, family caregivers and health professionals. CONCLUSIONS: The program helps to maintain or improve quality of life, allows preventive care and is an ideal means of providing psychosocial support to the elderly.

Tele-asistencia y tele-alarma para adultos mayores: experiencias preliminares en Mexico / Tele-care and tele-alarms for the elderly: preliminary experiences in Mexico

OBJETIVO Analizar el efecto de un programa piloto de tele-asistencia y tele-alarma en la autopercepción del estado de salud de los adultos mayores y conocer la satisfacción y aceptación del programa. METODOS Estudio transversal que incluyó entrevistas a 378 adultos mayores, 294 cuidadores/familiares y 53 profesionales de la salud, realizado en la Ciudad de México en 2010. Variables sociodemográficas, de autopercepción del estado de salud, satisfacción y aceptación del programa se obtuvieron por medio de cuestionario estandarizado. Se realizó análisis descriptivo y se utilizaron pruebas no paramétricas. RESULTADOS Se observaron efectos significativos en la autopercepción del estado de salud, 6,17 (DE 17,9 p < 0,05) puntos por encima de la media. El programa tuvo una buena aceptación por parte de los adultos mayores, de sus cuidadores familiares y de los profesionales de la salud. CONCLUSIONES El programa contribuye a mantener o mejorar la calidad de vida, permite la atención preventiva y es un medio ideal para dar apoyo psicosocial a los adultos mayores. .

OBJECTIVE : To analyze the effect of a pilot program of tele-assistance and tele-alarms on the elderly’s self-perception of health status and to identify the satisfaction with and acceptance of the program. METHODS : Cross-sectional study that included interviews with 378 elderly individuals, 294 caretakers/relatives and 53 health care professionals. The program was run in Mexico City in 2010. The variables were socio-demographic characteristics, self-rated health, satisfaction and acceptance of the program. The information was gathered through a standardized questionnaire. The statistical analysis included descriptive analysis and nonparametric tests. RESULTS : Significant effects on self-perception of health were observed, 6.17 (SD 17.9 p < 0.05) points above the average. The program was well received and accepted by the elderly, family caregivers and health professionals. CONCLUSIONS : The program helps to maintain or improve quality of life, allows preventive care and is an ideal means of providing psychosocial support to the elderly. .

[Validation of the Quality of Life in Alzheimer's Disease (QOL-AD) scale in Mexican patients with Alzheimer, vascular and mixed-type dementia]. / Validación de la escala Quality of Life in Alzheimer's Disease (QOL-AD) en pacientes mexicanos con demencia tipo Alzheimer, vascular y mixta.

AIM: To adapt the Quality of Life in Alzheimer's Disease (QOL-AD) scale to Spanish, as well as to evaluate its reliability and validity in Mexico. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study involved a sample of 114 patients diagnosed with Alzheimer, vascular and mixed-type dementia, according to the criteria of the National Institute for Neurological and Communicative Disorders/Stroke-Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association (NINCDS-ADRDA), the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke/Association Internationale pour la Recherche et l'Enseignement en Neurosciences (NINDS-AIREN) and the Alzheimer's Disease Diagnostic and Treatment Centers (ADDTC), respectively. Their primary caregivers (n = 114) and a control group (n = 30) of persons aged 60 or over without dementia and their closest relatives were also evaluated. RESULTS: The total group with dementia obtained a mean age and a standard deviation of 80.15 +/- 7.13. The Folstein minimental test was 18.55 +/- 4.99. We obtained a Cronbach's alpha of 0.88 for the patient version of the QOL-AD (QOL-ADp) and 0.82 for the caregiver version of the QOL-AD (QOL-ADc). The test-retest yielded an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.9 (p < 0.001; 95% confidence interval, CI 95% = 0.58-0.91) for the QOL-ADp and 0.81 (p < 0.001; CI 95% = 0.78-0.95) for the QOL-ADc. Moreover, the QOL-ADp showed a significant correlation with the geriatric depression scale (r = -0.73; p < 0.001) and with the neuropsychiatric inventory (r = -0.44; p < 0.001). With the QOL-ADc, these correlations were r = -0.5 (p < 0.001) and r = -0.3 (p < 0.001), respectively. Both versions of the QOL-AD were able to distinguish between the group of subjects with dementia and the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The QOL-AD yielded satisfactory results in terms of internal and external reliability, validity between measurements and between known groups. Thus, we can recommend its use to evaluate the quality of life of patients with dementia.

Validación de la escala Quality of Life in Alzheimer’s Disease (QOL-AD) en pacientes mexicanos con demencia tipo Alzheimer, vascular y mixta / Validation of the Quality of Life in Alzheimer’s Disease (QOL-AD) scale in Mexican patients with Alzheimer, vascular and mixed-type dementia

Objetivo. Realizar la adaptación al español de la escala Quality of Life in Alzheimer’s Disease (QOL-AD) y evaluar su fiabilidad y validez en México. Sujetos y métodos. Se incluyó a 114 pacientes con diagnóstico de demencia tipo Alzheimer, vascular y mixta, de acuerdo con los criterios de los National Institute for Neurological and Communicative Disorders/Stroke-Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Association (NINCDS-ADRDA), los National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke/Association Internationale pour la Recherche et l’Enseignement en Neurosciences (NINDS-AIREN) y los Alzheimer’s Disease Diagnostic and Treatment Centers (ADDTC), respectivamente. También se evaluó a sus cuidadores primarios (n = 114) y a un grupo control (n = 30) de personas de 60 años y más sin demencia y sus familiares más cercanos. Resultados. El grupo total con demencia obtuvo una media de edad de 80,15 ± 7,13 años. El test minimental de Folstein fue de 18,55 ± 4,99. Encontramos un alfa de Cronbach de 0,88 para la QOL-AD versión paciente (QOL-ADp) y de 0,82 para la QOL-AD versión cuidador (QOL-ADc). En el test-retest se obtuvo un coeficiente de correlación intraclase de 0,9 (p < 0,001; intervalo de confianza al 95%, IC 95% = 0,58-0,91) para la QOL-ADp y de 0,81 (p < 0,001; IC 95% = 0,78- 0,95) para la QOL-ADc. Además, la QOL-ADp demostró una correlación significativa con la escala de depresión geriátrica (r = –0,73; p < 0,001) y con el inventario neuropsiquiátrico (r = –0,44; p < 0,001). Con la QOL-ADc, estas correlaciones fueron de r = –0,50 (p < 0,001) y r = –0,30 (p < 0,001), respectivamente. Ambas versiones de la QOL-AD pudieron discriminar entre el grupo de sujetos con demencia y el grupo control. Conclusiones. La escala QOL-AD arrojó resultados satisfactorios en términos de fiabilidad interna y externa, validez entre mediciones y entre grupos conocidos. Por lo tanto, podemos recomendar su utilización para evaluar la calidad de vida de los pacientes con demencia (AU)

Aim. To adapt the Quality of Life in Alzheimer’s Disease (QOL-AD) scale to Spanish, as well as to evaluate its reliability and validity in Mexico. Subjects and methods. The study involved a sample of 114 patients diagnosed with Alzheimer, vascular and mixed-type dementia, according to the criteria of the National Institute for Neurological and Communicative Disorders/Stroke-Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders Association (NINCDS-ADRDA), the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke/ Association Internationale pour la Recherche et l’Enseignement en Neurosciences (NINDS-AIREN) and the Alzheimer’s Disease Diagnostic and Treatment Centers (ADDTC), respectively. Their primary caregivers (n = 114) and a control group (n = 30) of persons aged 60 or over without dementia and their closest relatives were also evaluated. Results. The total group with dementia obtained a mean age and a standard deviation of 80.15 ± 7.13. The Folstein minimental test was 18.55 ± 4.99. We obtained a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.88 for the patient version of the QOL-AD (QOL-ADp) nd 0.82 for the caregiver version of the QOL-AD (QOL-ADc). The test-retest yielded an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.9 (p < 0.001; 95% confidence interval, CI 95% = 0.58-0.91) for the QOL-ADp and 0.81 (p < 0.001; CI 95% = 0.78-0.95) for the QOL-ADc. Moreover, the QOL-ADp showed a significant correlation with the geriatric depression scale (r = –0.73; p < 0.001) and with the neuropsychiatric inventory (r = –0.44; p < 0.001). With the QOL-ADc, these correlations were r = –0.5 (p < 0.001) and r = –0.3 (p < 0.001), respectively. Both versions of the QOL-AD were able to distinguish between the group of subjects with dementia and the control group. Conclusions. The QOL-AD yielded satisfactory results in terms of internal and external reliability, validity between measurements and between known groups. Thus, we can recommend its use to evaluate the quality of life of patients with dementia (AU)

Effectiveness of two rehabilitation strategies provided by nurses for stroke patients in Mexico.

OBJECTIVE: Rehabilitation strategies have been developed to improve functional state in stroke patients. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the early rehabilitation at hospital and its continuity at home provided by nurses, on the functional recovery of basic and social activities in stroke patients compared with conventional care. DESIGN: A randomised clinical trial was carried out in three general hospitals of the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS) in Mexico City between April 2003-May 2004. PARTICIPANTS: Stroke patients. METHODS: Two rehabilitation strategies provided by nurses for stroke patients were compared: physiotherapy plus caregiver education in rehabilitation (strategy 1, S1) vs. education alone (strategy 2, S2). The main outcome variables were the basic (Barthel index) and social (Frenchay activities index) activities of daily living, of each patient. Age, sex, morbidity, stroke symptoms, complications, neurological damage (Canadian Scale), cognitive state (mini-mental state examination questionnaire) and duration of hospitalisation were defined as the control variables. Patients were evaluated at baseline and months one, three and six thereafter. RESULTS: One hundred and ten patients with ischaemic stroke were enrolled and randomised; 59 were assigned to S1 and 51 to S2. Comparison of the outcome variables showed that patients improved significantly over time, but no differences were observed between groups. We observed no significant difference in strategy performance with regard to the basic and instrumental activities of daily living. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Participants who received physiotherapy with additional caregiver education benefit no more than those whose caregivers received education alone. Those countries that do not have integral rehabilitation programmes for stroke patients should understand their importance and budget resources for them. Meanwhile, both caregiver education and nurses trained in specific care and physiotherapy are alternatives that benefit these patients.

Necesidades de atención social a la salud de los niños y adolescentes con VIH-SIDA: perspectivas del Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez / Social care needs to the health of child and adolescents with HIV-AIDS: perspectives of the Hospital Infantil de Mexico Federico Gomez

Introducción. Objetivo: analizar las necesidades de atención social a la salud de pacientes atendidos en la Clínica para niños con Inmunodeficiencias/VIH-SIDA del Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez. Métodos. En el año 2008 se condujo un estudio transversal con niños y adolescentes usuarios de la clínica para niños con inmunodeficiencias. Se analizó la información demográfica, familiar y económica contenida en los expedientes sociales. Resultados. Se analizaron 177 pacientes: 25% menores de 5 años de edad, 48% tenían entre 5 y 10 años, 13% de 10 a 15 años y 13% mayores de 15 años; 53% recibía cuidado parental, 28% por familiares cercanos y 17.5% estaba en albergues. La escolaridad se observó por debajo del promedio esperado; 70% de los padres (madre, padre o ambos) tenía VIH-SIDA. El ingreso promedio mensual de 87.8% de las familias fue de $2 644.00 MN; del cual, 62% se destinaba para gastos de alimentación y 9% para servicios médicos. Los ingresos provenían del mercado informal. Todos los pacientes recibían los medicamentos gratuitamente a través del Sistema de Protección Social en Salud (Seguro Popular). Conclusión. Los pacientes y sus familias tenían severas condiciones de vulnerabilidad social y escasa posibilidad para desarrollar competencias educativas y laborales. Por lo que es indispensable incrementar la capacidad institucional de la Clínica de Inmunodeficiencia/VIH-SIDA para otorgar atención social.

Introduction. We undertook this study in order to analyze the social care needs of users of the Immunodeficiency/HIV clinic of Hospital Infantil de Mexico Federico Gomez in Mexico City. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted with chil-dren and adolescents attending the clinic. Demographic, family and economic information were analyzed from the clinical files. Results. Included in the study were 177 patients: 25% were <5 years of age, 48% between 5 and 10 years, 13% between 10 and 15 years and 13% >15 years. Their educational level was below the expected average. Of these children, 53% are cared for by their parents, 28% by close relatives and 17% reside in shelters; 70% of parents suffer from HIV-AIDS and 87% of families have a monthly average income of MXN$2 644.00, from which 62% is allocated for food and 9% for medical care. Most of the "breadwinners" are marginally employed. All patients receive free medication covered by the Sistema de Protección Social en Salud. Conclusion. Children and adolescents with AIDS and their families have severe conditions of social vulnerability and little possibility for developing their educational and occupational capabilities. Expanding the capacity of the Immunodeficiency/ HIV clinic to provide social care will fulfill an unmet need.