Sunrise House sits on the East Side of Providence at 106 8th St and serves older adults aged 50 or over living with HIV. The place is small and quiet with 10 assisted living units in a board and care home setting, so folks get personal attention. Accommodations come as one-bedroom units, shared apartments, and studios, all fully furnished with things like cable TV, high-speed internet, and private or shared baths. Sunrise House is a non-profit under Rhode Island license # ALR01428 and is part of AIDS Care Ocean State's Supportive Housing Program, which means the focus is on helping HIV+ seniors with daily life and healthcare needs.
The staff is there all day and night, providing support like help with bathing, dressing, transfers, and daily medications. Some need more, like manual feeding or incontinence care, and the team makes custom care plans for each person. The place is in a drug and alcohol-free setting for stability, and everyone gets scheduled bathroom reminders and 24-hour emergency systems.
Sunrise House offers skilled nursing, rehabilitative therapies, memory care for dementia and Alzheimer's, plus access to a Harvard Medical School-affiliated rehab hospital and physical therapists using new equipment. There's a strong support system with case management, housekeeping, linen service, mental health and social support, and help with medical appointments and care coordination. Residents get meals, including diets for diabetes or other needs, and the kitchen can handle special requests.
The place has gardens, outdoor spaces, a game room, library, reading room, theater, beauty salon, barbershop, private dining, a cafe for coffee, a pub for happy hour or billiards, and a fitness center. They bring in daily activities, exercise groups, games, crafts, and even outings, plus pet-friendly rules for animal lovers. Transportation is available for errands, doctor visits, and community events.
People who join the program show proof of HIV/AIDS status, are 50 or older, have a recent TB test, use HIV/AIDS-specific case management, and don't need ongoing skilled nursing or long-term mental health care. Sunrise House charges a fee of 30% of monthly income plus $50, covers all of Rhode Island, and fosters a family-like environment where folks get companionship, advocacy, home health, and help with chores. There's respite care for caregivers too. Sunrise House also takes part in community outreach, education, and runs support groups and harm reduction, with an emphasis on promoting health and independence for older adults with HIV.
