The diagnosis of AIDS is an especially stressful event for AIDS patients and has been identified as a critical time for psychosocial intervention. Elements contributing to patients' stress include having a contagious disease that threatens their long-term survival, making changes in their lifestyle; and dealing with the prospect of having to reveal their homosexuality to family, friends, and colleagues. Also causing stress is, in many cases, a slowly progressive dementia related to AIDS that can be severely incapacitating. These patients often need extensive help with the basic activities of daily living. AIDS patients with opportunistic infections have no structured treatment regimen to follow that will help them cope with the fear of the progressive effects of their disease. Some treatments have side effects such as weakness and depression. From a pilot study involving psychosocial assessments of 42 of the first 58 patients treated at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center between 1981 and 1982, certain characteristics of AIDS patients were found to make them more vulnerable than other patients to social and psychological dysfunctions. They include (1) lack of employment and insurance as a result of the disease, (2) support network limitations, (3) three-quarters of patients lived alone with no one to help them with daily chores, and (4) need of supportive care for families. A model program is presented to provide comprehensive services to AIDS patients within an acute care center. These services include: (1) orientation to the center by a social worker who determines patients' needs and provides counseling, if needed; (2) ongoing interventions, such as referral to community resources; and (3) ongoing support, such as support groups and patient education. 11 references.