Did you know that 93% of Nephrologists and 89% of nurses will choose home dialysis if their kidneys fail according to a report in Nephrology News and Issues in 2010? With home dialysis, the treatment fits into your life—not the other way around. Treatment times are more flexible and based on your lifestyle. You don’t have to show up at a specific time at a dialysis center for treatment like in-center dialysis. Dialysis can be scheduled around your time. Home dialysis gives you the flexibility you need to keep doing the things you love while helping you feel your best.

There are two types of home dialysis, peritoneal dialysis and home hemodialysis. In peritoneal dialysis, there is no blood involved, and a machine controls dialysis fluid that goes in and out of your tummy through a tube overnight for 6-10 hours while you are asleep. In home hemodialysis, your blood is cleaned by a special filter that is attached to a smaller dialysis machine than a regular in-center machines for 4-6x per week for about 3-4 hours. You can choose dialysis days and hours based on your body and lifestyle. There is a training program for home dialysis before you start on your own. This may take 2 weeks for peritoneal dialysis or 4-6 weeks for home hemodialysis.   

The machines are free and covered by your insurance plan. There are a few medicines that may have copays. Check with your plan and dialysis provider. There are rebates/discounts available for electricity and water used for dialysis in certain areas.  There will be a home visit by dialysis staff to find a suitable space to place your machine and store your supplies and equipment and to check your plumbing and electric outlets.

Home dialysis has many benefits including:

• Flexibility - Along with your doctor or nurse’s advice, you can choose a treatment schedule that gives you the flexibility to keep the social, school, or work life you love.
• Fewer restrictions – As you do more frequent dialysis, you may have the opportunity to explore foods and drinks that you love and the possibility of fewer restrictions and medications.
• Fewer trips to the dialysis center - By reducing the number of trips to the dialysis center, you have more time for yourself—and less transportation worries.
• Regular monitoring - With advances in electronic monitoring, you and your care team can easily track your treatment progress and stay connected between your monthly visits.
• 24/7 on-call physician and nurses - You have access to our 24/7 nurse line for support anytime, day or night as well as trouble shooting for your machine. In addition, your physician has an on-call team all the time.
• Travel – You can freely travel within US and possibly overseas if things are arranged in advance.

Talk to your care team about starting with home dialysis or making the switch to home.