The Robert Mapplethorpe Residential Treatment Facility (RMRTF) provides full medical and social services for people living with HIV/AIDS who cannot live on their own, but do not need inpatient hospital care. In its home-like setting, RMRTF has created a life-affirming environment of care that encourages a sense of community based on mutual respect, compassion, and support, which enhances the quality of life for all its residents.

Medical Services
The RMRTF offers 24-hour ambulatory care from an expert multi-disciplinary staff. Physicians at the facility specialize in treatment of HIV/AIDS and its complications. They are trained in internal medicine to address conditions such as hypertension, emphysema, diabetes,and liver disease, among others. They also provide specialized pain management services for patients with a history of chemical dependency and patients receiving hemodialysis. The team includes nursing professionals with many years of experience in caring for people with AIDS, chemical dependency, and serious mental illness.

Dental Services
Dental care is provided by a team consisting of a dentist, hygienist, and dental assistant. Comprehensive care includes routine dental hygiene and treatment, x-rays, fillings and dentures, as well as education about dental health. Referrals are made for dental surgery.

Should inpatient hospital care be needed, the RMRTF’s location near BIMC allows for immediate access to all of the medical center’s diagnostic and treatment services.

Mental Health Services
The Mental Health Program provides on-site psychiatric consultation, medication management, individual, couples, and family psychotherapy, professionally led support groups, substance-abuse counseling and treatment. Through music and art therapy, residents learn to express themselves in new ways. The facility also offers chaplaincy and spiritual care services.

Nutrition
Residents receive individual comprehensive nutritional evaluations and counseling. They also learn about healthy eating in nutrition education workshops.

Residential Services
The long-term goal for many residents is to return to living in their communities with improved health, sobriety, and coping skills that will result in a better quality of life. The RMRTF provides a range of services including individual therapy, group therapy, substance abuse counseling and education, art therapy (both group and individual), music therapy, therapeutic activities in the community, such as bowling, shows, trips to museums and exhibitions, and a spiritual retreat. The art therapy component of the program has grown and accessed grants to work on murals and a therapeutic garden.The clinical team works with residents towards their vocational goals.

Our pastoral care services provide spiritual assistance and healing. The team works in conjunction with community providers and organizations to offer case management services, vocational training, Social Security, and (for those who are being discharged) Public Assistance advocacy and assistance with law enforcement and legal issues. Each resident is assessed at the time of admission and throughout their stay to ensure that their personal goals are also met in conjunction with the goals of the facility to work towards sobriety, health and independence.

Admissions Criteria
A committee consisting of a physician, registered nurse, substance abuse counselor and social worker reviews admission requests. Applicants must be referred by their doctor, social worker, or other New York State-accepted referral sources.

In order to be admitted, you must be:

• Diagnosed with HIV/AIDS symptomatic.
• Not currently using illicit chemical substances/alcohol or, if applicable, be willing to
participate in treatment that includes group therapy, 12 step meetings, and methadone maintenance.
• Have independent daily living skills and be able to benefit from the supportive structure of a supervised residential program.
• Be receiving Medicaid or Medicare, have third-party insurance, or be able to self-pay.