Services required by people who are home bound, such as attendant care and meal delivery, may be hard for people living with HIV to access. Transportation is always a major problem. In urban areas there are buses, trains, cabs and other transportation available. In rural areas it can be difficult to provide adequate transportation services. The delivery of services in the eastern end of our county is hampered by the Sierra Nevada mountains.
Medical services can be difficult to access as well.
Health care professionals may not be as educated about HIV issues as those in urban areas, simply because they don't see the same numbers of people. Many doctors do not accept MediCal or other public health insurance. Simple matters such as utilities and water are not often an issue for urban dwellers, but can be a major issue for rural residents in our area. This past winter many local residents were without power for several days. For people living with HIV, this can be more than an inconvenience, as they may have medical needs that require power.