Who Is a Candidate for Home Dialysis?

Nearly 40 million Americans suffer from chronic kidney disease (CKD), a serious, long-term condition that’s associated with marked kidney dysfunction. CKD requires ongoing management to maintain health and prevent complications. In some instances, that management plan includes dialysis.

As a top-rated kidney doctor in Dearborn, Michigan, Chadi Saad, MD, helps patients at Nephrocare MD LLC, manage CKD with home comfort dialysis, a unique approach to care that supports the ease and convenience of having dialysis treatments in your own home. In this post, learn how to tell if dialysis at home is right for you.

Dialysis basics

Your kidneys are your body’s “built-in” filters, removing excess fluids and other wastes from your blood while helping your body balance levels of water, salts, and minerals. Excess fluids and wastes are removed from your body via urination.

In kidney disease, your kidneys are no longer able to filter your blood efficiently. That means excess fluids and wastes can build up in your blood and your tissues, taking a toll on your overall health. Over time, that buildup can become life-threatening.

Dialysis uses special machines and solutions to filter your blood, removing wastes and returning “clean” blood to your circulatory system. Traditionally, dialysis has been performed in special centers and hospitals, but more recently, advances in technology have made at-home dialysis possible, too.

Hemodialysis vs. peritoneal dialysis

There are two primary types of dialysis — hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis — and both types can be performed at home. Hemodialysis uses a machine to filter your blood, while peritoneal dialysis uses your own abdominal lining to filter your blood via a special catheter system.

Deciding if home dialysis is right for you

Though traditional dialysis at a medical center requires frequent trips and a considerable amount of time, home dialysis requires no travel, and treatments can be performed in shorter periods or even overnight. Best of all, home dialysis can be a good option for most people with CKD. 

Learning how to perform dialysis at home does take some time and effort. Our providers offer complete instructions and ongoing support to help you be successful and feel confident about your care. Before receiving home dialysis, our team will review your health history and ensure you’re healthy enough and motivated enough to stick with your routine. 

You’ll also need to have a care partner available to attend training sessions with you. Your partner serves as “backup” in case you need assistance administering therapy at home. If your partner lives with you, you may be able to have your dialysis performed overnight, eliminating the need for treatments during the day.

Learn more about home dialysis

If you have CKD, our home care program can help you receive the care you need while still enjoying a full, active life. To learn more about home dialysis and whether it’s a good solution for you, call 313-960-6605, or book an appointment online with Dr. Saad and the team at Nephrocare MD LLC today.