• Home
• Chronic Kidney Disease
• Treatment
• Renal Diet
• Quality of Care
• Resources
• Links

Family Life

Kidney disease is a family affair.

Everyone in the family feels the impact of chronic kidney disease.

Often family members need to readjust and take on different responsibilities and roles. Household schedules change and time management becomes an even bigger focus of day to day life. Shopping and mealtimes change as the family tries to accommodate the limitations and restrictions of the renal diet. Outings and vacations become less spontaneous as travel time revolves around availability and access to dialysis.  Financial resources may become strained as family income changes and expenses grow.

These changes may be difficult but the obstacles they present can be met and overcome.

• The first step is to learn about kidney disease as a family. Learning about the disease together is one way of acknowledging the fact that everyone is affected. Children who have chronic kidney disease or have a parent with kidney disease need to be told about the illness at an age-appropriate level. The dialysis staff can assist with this and there are a number of educational resources online especially for children. Children also may have a lot of fear and anger about what is happening to their families. Understanding the illness can help them deal with it better.
• The second step is to work together on creating solutions and strategies to meet the many challenges brought about by chronic kidney disease.  Make sure everyone has a chance to talk and a chance to suggest solutions. It's a good way to get everyone working on the problems together and making the necessary accomodations and compromises that a new family way of life may bring.
• The third step is to seek out and accept the assistance and resources that you will need to be successful. There is no reason to “go it alone” whether as an individual or as a family. It's too easy to become discouraged or burned out if you try to do it all yourself. Allowing extended family member, friends and neighbors to provide transportation or do shopping or other chores is a smart way to include others who care and want to help and to provide a needed break to family members.

In this section you will find patients and family members who are facing the challenge of kidney disease are working together to create a better life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last updated on: November 11, 2010

• Quality Home
  • Advanced Directives
  • Patients Rights
  • Exercise
  • Family Life
  • Vocational Rehabilitation