HIV/AIDS: A New Service Continuum for Occupational Therapy

Abstract

The first cases of what is now known as AIDS were reported in the USA in June 1981. The first article on occupational therapy for people with HIV/AIDS was published 6 years later in July 1987. Since that time, much has been written about the work of occupational therapists with people affected by HIV or AIDS. This article presents some of the material published on this area of work, and suggests that occupational therapy has much more to offer this group of people than is described in the literature. A new continuum of service provision is outlined and discussed. This includes practice that falls outside what might be considered the traditional role of occupational therapists. Although this article is specific to HIV/AIDS, many of the issues raised are applicable to other areas of practice.