California complex for HIV-positive people to add staff

Prodded by a report by a consulting firm recommending the hiring of additional staff, a West Hollywood, Calif., housing complex for HIV-positive people announced this week it will hire more employees and better inform residents of the services it offers, the Los Angeles Times reports. The study was launched after four residents of the Palm View Apartments complained that a tenant whose health began to falter was "virtually abandoned" by managers of the complex last year. Resident services coordinator Lee Myers said she checked on the tenant weekly and urged him to see a doctor, but he eventually ended up being hospitalized in March. The report offered up 20 recommendations to the West Hollywood Community Housing Corp., which operates the 40-unit apartment building. Among the recommendations were the hiring of additional staff, the implementation of protocols to follow when it appears a resident is having health problems, and the establishment of contracts between the complex and residents allowing apartment managers to intervene if a resident becomes seriously ill. The Palm View Apartments provides apartment residences for HIV-positive people where they can live independently, but it also offers several social service programs and has managers on staff to monitor the residents' health and service needs.