A Caregivers Guide To Home Dialysis
If you have a loved one who is about to begin the journey of home dialysis, it's critical that he or she be prepared. However, it's equally vital that you prepare. As a caregiver, you play a very crucial role in the dialysis process, as well as the comfort and safety of your loved one receiving the treatment. Ensure you know what to do.
Complete the Training Program
Before your loved one is given the clearance to complete home dialysis, it's generally standard that the patient, as well as their primary caregiver, complete a training program. It's essential you complete the entire program and take the process very seriously. A critical part of the training provides you with knowledge on some of the symptoms that can occur when there is an issue with the dialysis process, such as extreme fatigue or forgetfulness. It's essential you be able to detect some of these warning signs so that you can get your loved one the help they need if there is a problem.
Learn About the Machine
It's equally vital that you know how to use the machine. While the overall function of all home dialysis machines is the same, the manner in which they perform is not the same across the board, particularly when it comes to how the device should be inspected and cleaned. At the same time that you complete the training program for home dialysis, it's a good idea also to ask questions about the specific machine that your loved one will be sent home with.
Create a Journal
Create and maintain a journal that you can use to notate your loved one's treatments. While your loved one might be afforded the luxury of completing their treatments at home, they will still be under strict medical monitoring. The healthcare professional overseeing the treatment will want to see what dialysis schedule your loved one follows at home, as well as the condition that your loved one is in post-treatment. Creating a journal is a simplified way to keep all this information in a single location.
Shop Ahead of Time
One benefit of home dialysis treatments is the fact that the person receiving the treatment has a great deal of flexibility when it comes to their eating schedule. While your loved one will still have to follow the guidelines prescribed by their renal dietician, adapting to an at-home dialysis schedule does offer more flexibility in terms of when they can eat. It's helpful to shop ahead of time so that when your loved one wants to eat, he or she can eat right away without affecting any upcoming dialysis sessions.
Remember, your efforts are very important, so ensure you are prepared to assist your loved one with their home dialysis treatments in every way.
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