Our Success
In the short time The Open Door has opened its doors, there has been significant improvement in the lives of its residents.
- All residents have experienced significant decreases in their viral load and increases in their CD4 count
- Built a sense of community and help residents to learn they are not alone in this illness
- Developed peer support system
- Drug use has decreased significantly or, in some cases, 100% abstinence
- Increased the self esteem of the residents
- All residents now have a 100% commitment to risk reduction
- Dramatic improvement in adherence to treatment plans
- Residents have become active in care by gaining education of medical issues. They are now able to the right choices and live independently
- Have placed 3 peers in charge and they have demonstrated leadership and hope
- Mentor program leads to success for residents
- Medication and appointments are kept because residents assist one another by reminding each other about those events
- The residents organized a memorial service to honor the loss of a loved one
* Viral load tests are reported as the number of HIV copies in a milliliter of blood. If the viral load measurement is high, it indicates that HIV is reproducing and that the disease will likely progress faster than if the viral load is low. A high viral load can be anywhere from 5,000 to 10,000 copies and can range as high as one million or more. A low viral load indicates that HIV is not actively reproducing and that the risk of disease progression is low. Evidence shows that keeping the viral load levels as low as possible for as long as possible decreases the complications of HIV disease and prolongs life.