Home dialysis basics

Top 5 benefits of home dialysis treatment

The quality of life for patients undergoing dialysis treatments can often seem compromised and without benefit due to seemingly endless trips to dialysis clinics, expensive or frequent gas bills, and an increased strain on their personal lives. Leisure time and simply feeling well enough to keep up with day-to-day responsibilities seem to be things of the past. Families and friends of patients on dialysis also often express dismay at the extra expenses and time-consuming clinic visits.

Because of these issues and inconveniences, more and more patients these days are turning to at-home dialysis. In correlation, the types of home dialysis treatment have become more user-friendly, making it easier for patients to dialyze at home. Peritoneal dialysis (PD) and home hemodialysis (HHD) are two options available to end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients looking for greater flexibility and control of their treatments and lifestyles.

When it comes to distinguishing between these two treatment modalities, it's hard to say which one is better. The answer depends on each patient's lifestyle, particular medical needs, and what his or her medical team feels is right. Patients seriously considering at-home dialysis should meet with their doctors and family members about which method works best for them.

The benefits of home dialysis treatment are significant.

The first and most significant benefit of at-home dialysis is improved patient outcomes.

Patients that choose to dialyze from the comfort of their own homes do so more frequently and for shorter periods of time. Frequent dialysis more closely mimics the natural functions of the kidneys, with less waste and fluids building up in the body between treatments. The increased frequency has contributed to lower mortality rates, less negative side effects, and more favorable results overall. And because patients can perform dialysis at home either during the day or while sleeping at night, they receive the health benefits of short, daily treatments without missing out on their lives.

The second major benefit of at-home dialysis is extra free time.

When patients are spending numerous hours a day in a dialysis clinic, it's inevitable that they miss out on time with their family and friends, their hobbies, or whatever it is they love to do in their free time. Home dialysis changes that. Patients on at-home dialysis can use their treatment time to surf the Internet, play games with their grandkids, watch their favorite soap operas, pay bills, take naps, study for class, talk to friends on the phone, and more. At-home dialysis patients have more freedom during their days and are able to live more normal lives. Also, a change of scenery - from in-clinic to at-home - can help make treatments more enjoyable and comfortable.

The third major benefit of at-home dialysis is a reduction in travel-related expenses.

End stage renal disease (ESRD) patients that choose at-home dialysis benefit from a reduction in the amount of driving that they do and thus save money each month on expenses like gasoline and auto maintenance.  While it might not seem significant, these little savings add up.  In addition, most private insurance plans make coverage available to qualified patients who choose to do home dialysis.  Qualified patients can also take advantage of Medicare coverage.

The fourth major benefit of at-home dialysis is an improved understanding of end stage renal disease.

Patients who choose at-home dialysis often learn more about their disease than those who choose to do in-center dialysis because they are more directly involved in their treatments. This newly-gained knowledge and control over their health conditions often leads to less fear and depression and a more positive outlook on the future. Patients who take on their dialysis themselves get an up-close and personal look at their illness and their treatment, and this often leads to healthier patients who are excellent monitors of their own bodies and health conditions.

The fifth major benefit of at-home dialysis is improved quality of life.

The benefit of improved quality of life is actually an accumulation of all the benefits that come with doing at-home dialysis. When patients make the transition from in-clinic to at-home dialysis, they generally see improved outcomes overall, have more free time, save money, and gain a deeper understanding of their health conditions. In short, patients on at-home dialysis enjoy a newfound control over their treatments, their health, their time, and their lives. These individual benefits add up and result in an improved quality of life.

Conclusion

In short, at-home dialysis is growing in popularity due to the flexibility and benefits it brings to patients’ lives. Patients interested in at-home dialysis should talk to their healthcare teams today about getting started.

Related articles on DaVita.com

• The benefits of home dialysis
• The basics of home dialysis