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Home dialysis patients can dialyze from the comfort of home, giving them better control of their treatment schedules and more time for themselves, their families, their jobs and the activities they enjoyed before starting dialysis.
If you currently dialyze in a center, home dialysis could still be an option for you. Learn about the two types of dialysis you can perform at home and discuss with your treating physician.
If you currently are on home dialysis, find helpful resources below.
About Home Dialysis
Peritoneal Dialysis (PD)
Peritoneal Dialysis (PD)
Home Hemodialysis (HHD)
Home Hemodialysis (HHD)
Home Dialysis Care Partners
Home Dialysis Care Partners
Peritoneal Dialysis (PD)
PD is a needle-free treatment that you can perform at home during the day or even at night while you sleep by using the lining of the abdomen to filter waste from the blood.
Some of the potential benefits of PD include:
- Control of your own treatment and a more-flexible schedule
- Functions more like natural kidneys
- Supports preservation of remaining kidney function, leading to better clinical outcomes
- Better transplant success rate2
Note: Your physician may order additional daytime therapy as residual renal function declines. Not all patients are eligible to treat only at night. Your doctor will prescribe your treatments according to your health needs.
Learn More
PD is a needle-free treatment that you can perform at home during the day or even at night while you sleep by using the lining of the abdomen to filter waste from the blood.
Some of the potential benefits of PD include:
- Control of your own treatment and a more-flexible schedule
- Functions more like natural kidneys
- Supports preservation of remaining kidney function, leading to better clinical outcomes
- Better transplant success rate2
Note: Your physician may order additional daytime therapy as residual renal function declines. Not all patients are eligible to treat only at night. Your doctor will prescribe your treatments according to your health needs.
Learn MoreHome Hemodialysis (HHD)
HHD works much like in-center hemodialysis but is done at home with a smaller, more user-friendly machine that cleans toxins from your blood. With the help of a care partner to perform the treatments, there are many potential benefits HHD patients can experience, such as:
- The ability to dialyze in the comfort of home
- Greater ability to travel
- Shorter recovery time after treatments2
- Fewer medications required3
Learn More
HHD works much like in-center hemodialysis but is done at home with a smaller, more user-friendly machine that cleans toxins from your blood. With the help of a care partner to perform the treatments, there are many potential benefits HHD patients can experience, such as:
- The ability to dialyze in the comfort of home
- Greater ability to travel
- Shorter recovery time after treatments2
- Fewer medications required3
Home Dialysis Care Partners
Care partners play an important role in the treatment of home patients. Learn the basics of being a care partner so you can help take care of your loved one and yourself.
- Who Could Be a Care Partner?
Explore whether being a care partner may be right for you.
- Tips and Resources
Get tips and resources to help you provide a good quality of life to your love one on dialysis.
- Managing Your Stress
Find ways to cope and manage your stress in a healthy way.
- Connect with Other Care Partners
Use the forums on myDaVita to connect with other care partners.
Care partners play an important role in the treatment of home patients. Learn the basics of being a care partner so you can help take care of your loved one and yourself.
- Who Could Be a Care Partner?
Explore whether being a care partner may be right for you. - Tips and Resources
Get tips and resources to help you provide a good quality of life to your love one on dialysis. - Managing Your Stress
Find ways to cope and manage your stress in a healthy way. - Connect with Other Care Partners
Use the forums on myDaVita to connect with other care partners.
Peritoneal Dialysis (PD)
PD is a needle-free treatment that you can perform at home during the day or even at night while you sleep by using the lining of the abdomen to filter waste from the blood.
Some of the potential benefits of PD include:
- Control of your own treatment and a more-flexible schedule
- Functions more like natural kidneys
- Supports preservation of remaining kidney function, leading to better clinical outcomes
- Better transplant success rate2
Note: Your physician may order additional daytime therapy as residual renal function declines. Not all patients are eligible to treat only at night. Your doctor will prescribe your treatments according to your health needs.
Learn MoreHome Hemodialysis (HHD)
HHD works much like in-center hemodialysis but is done at home with a smaller, more user-friendly machine that cleans toxins from your blood. With the help of a care partner to perform the treatments, there are many potential benefits HHD patients can experience, such as:
- The ability to dialyze in the comfort of home
- Greater ability to travel
- Shorter recovery time after treatments2
- Fewer medications required3
Home Dialysis Care Partners
Care partners play an important role in the treatment of home patients. Learn the basics of being a care partner so you can help take care of your loved one and yourself.
- Who Could Be a Care Partner?
Explore whether being a care partner may be right for you. - Tips and Resources
Get tips and resources to help you provide a good quality of life to your love one on dialysis. - Managing Your Stress
Find ways to cope and manage your stress in a healthy way. - Connect with Other Care Partners
Use the forums on myDaVita to connect with other care partners.
We serve more home dialysis patients than any other U.S. provider.4
Talk to your doctor about home dialysis and search for a home program near you today.
SearchHome Dialysis Basics
Potential Health Benefits
Potential Lifestyle Benefits
Common Home Dialysis Concerns
Getting Started
Shorter recovery time after treatments2
Better transplant success rate2
Better blood pressure control5
Improved sleep reported6
Convenience and flexibility
Ability to free up the day by dialyzing at night (Note: Your physician may order additional daytime therapy as residual renal function declines)
Greater ability to travel
Fewer trips to the dialysis center
Pets: You do not have to give up your beloved companions but they should not be present in the room where you dialyze while you connect or disconnect to the machine.
Age: There is no age cap or requirement to receive home dialysis.
Infections: Use proper training and hand-washing techniques to help avoid infections.
Time commitment: By not traveling to and from a dialysis center for each treatment, home dialysis patients can get more time back in their day.
#1 Talk with your doctor
Even if you are currently receiving dialysis treatment in-center, home dialysis could still be an option for you. Speak with your doctor candidly about your interest in home dialysis. Ask about the potential benefits and any medical risks, as well as your treatment options and how your choice could affect your lifestyle and overall health. If you are currently treating on dialysis, learn more here.
#2 Start home dialysis training
Once you and your doctor decide that home dialysis is right for you, you and your care partner (a friend or family member) will start a comprehensive safety and training program with your care team. Training is customized to meet your specific needs, and will provide you the education, tools and support needed to stay healthy and safe.
#3 Get your home ready
Because you'll perform treatments from home, you'll need to make room to store equipment and supplies. Although the equipment and supplies you need vary based on your choice of treatment, it's essential to make sure you have a comfortable and sanitary environment dedicated for your treatments.
#4 Receive ongoing care
Even though you do not have to treat at a center, it’s important to understand that you're never alone when you do home dialysis. You will maintain regular contact with your doctor and dialysis nurses who will closely monitor and track your care. In most cases, you'll also make a monthly visit to meet with your health care team and talk regularly by phone about any issues or concerns.
Shorter recovery time after treatments2
Better transplant success rate2
Better blood pressure control5
Improved sleep reported6
Convenience and flexibility
Ability to free up the day by dialyzing at night (Note: Your physician may order additional daytime therapy as residual renal function declines)
Greater ability to travel
Fewer trips to the dialysis center
Pets: You do not have to give up your beloved companions but they should not be present in the room where you dialyze while you connect or disconnect to the machine.
Age: There is no age cap or requirement to receive home dialysis.
Infections: Use proper training and hand-washing techniques to help avoid infections.
Time commitment: By not traveling to and from a dialysis center for each treatment, home dialysis patients can get more time back in their day.
#1 Talk with your doctor
Even if you are currently receiving dialysis treatment in-center, home dialysis could still be an option for you. Speak with your doctor candidly about your interest in home dialysis. Ask about the potential benefits and any medical risks, as well as your treatment options and how your choice could affect your lifestyle and overall health. If you are currently treating on dialysis, learn more here.
#2 Start home dialysis training
Once you and your doctor decide that home dialysis is right for you, you and your care partner (a friend or family member) will start a comprehensive safety and training program with your care team. Training is customized to meet your specific needs, and will provide you the education, tools and support needed to stay healthy and safe.
#3 Get your home ready
Because you'll perform treatments from home, you'll need to make room to store equipment and supplies. Although the equipment and supplies you need vary based on your choice of treatment, it's essential to make sure you have a comfortable and sanitary environment dedicated for your treatments.
#4 Receive ongoing care
Even though you do not have to treat at a center, it’s important to understand that you're never alone when you do home dialysis. You will maintain regular contact with your doctor and dialysis nurses who will closely monitor and track your care. In most cases, you'll also make a monthly visit to meet with your health care team and talk regularly by phone about any issues or concerns.
Connect with Others
Connect with others who are considering or on home dialysis in the myDaVita forums.
Learn to manage your kidney health.
Get your questions answered at a no-cost Kidney Smart® class.
1. PD: Burkart J and Golper T. www.uptodate.com. Patient information: Peritoneal dialysis (Beyond the Basics). HHD: Galland R et al. Kidney International. 2001;60:155-1560. | 2. PD: Molnar, MZ et al. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 7: 332–341, 2012. HHD: Weinhandl, E et al. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2012 May; 23(5):895–904. | 3. PD: Renal Resource Center. An Introduction to Peritoneal Dialysis. www.renalresource.com. HHD: Jaber BL et al. Am J Kidney Dis. 2010;56:531-539. Nocturnal: Buqeia A et al. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2009 Apr;4(4):778-783. | 4. Nephrology News & Issues, Sept. 2018. | 5. PD: St Peter WL et al. BMC Nephrol. 2013; 14:249. HHD: FHN Trial Group. N Engl J Med. 2010 Dec;363(24):2287-2300. Nocturnal: Ranganathan D et al. Indian J Nephrol. 2012 Sep-Oct;22(5):323-332. | 6. PD: Theofilou P. J Clin Med Res. 2011 May 19;3(3):132-8. HHD: Jaber BL et al. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2011;6(5):1049-1056. Nocturnal: Buqeja A et al. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2009 Apr;4(4):778-783.