The kidneys play an important role in the body, filtering toxins from the blood, helping to control blood pressure, and creating important enzymes.  Renal disease (also known as chronic kidney disease) describes the gradual loss of kidney function.

When a person’s kidney function declines, they will experience a variety of different symptoms including weakness, shortness of breath, vomiting and edema (swelling).  It is a potentially fatal condition that may be treated with a variety of medications, dietary changes, and surgery.

Because the condition makes a person quite weak and short of breath it may become difficult to perform common household tasks like cooking, cleaning and doing the laundry.  It may also become difficult to get to doctor appointments or social engagements.

Home care can help by providing a variety of services including transportation, meal preparation, and domestic duties.  This article will take a closer look at how to manage renal disease with home care services.

Understanding Renal Disease

The kidneys are two organs located on the left and right of a person’s midsection.  Their primary responsibility is to clean the blood being used by the body, balancing the levels of salt and minerals that the blood contains. It removes waste products from the blood.  The kidneys also make an important enzyme that is responsible for regulating blood pressure and chemical’s which stimulate red blood cell production.

Kidney disease usually occurs as a result of other health conditions that put a great deal of strain on the kidneys.  In the United States, most cases of renal failure are caused by Type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure.  Renal failure can often be controlled by slowing or stopping the progression of the disease causing damage to the kidneys.  In the case of Type 2 diabetes and blood pressure, that usually involves taking medication and making dietary changes.

When the kidneys are damaged, the body cannot correctly process waste products and fluids begin to build up.  This will cause a wide range of symptoms including:

• Vomiting
• Weakness
• Insomnia
• Swelling in the ankles and feet
• Shortness of breath

Renal failure can be treated with a variety of medications, dietary changes, dialysis, or a kidney transplant.

How Home Care Can Help Clients with Renal Failure

Home care involves trained support staff helping a client in the comfort of their home.  They can perform the domestic duties that a person with renal failure is struggling with and help the client focus on their health.  Home care staff can also help a client perform various types of rehabilitation including range of motion and exercise.  Some of the most beneficial home care services for people with renal failure include:

Preparing nutritious meals

If the root cause of the client’s renal failure is diabetes or high blood pressure, it is crucial that they eat a balanced, nutritious, and healthy diet.  Home care staff can prepare delicious meals in the client’s home or deliver pre-made meals.

The nutritional content of meals is carefully planned to reduce the amount of sodium, potassium, phosphorous, and other minerals that damaged kidneys struggle to deal with.  Careful planning of the client’s diet can reduce the workload of the kidneys and slow the progression of the disease.

Assistance with rehabilitation techniques

Exercise it particularly important for client’s who are suffering from diabetes or a weight condition that is causing high blood pressure.  Home care staff can help the client by performing physical rehabilitation techniques with them.  They can also help the mental state of the client by providing companionship and emotional support — which is important when dealing with a chronic disease like renal failure.

Providing transportation

Because of the symptoms of renal failure, it can be difficult for a person with the condition to get to doctor appointments or other social engagements.  The shortness of breath and fatigue that a client may experience makes walking long distances or using public transportation very difficult.

Home care staff can provide transportation to doctor appointments or social engagements.  This allows the client to receive the medical attention they need and to remain social active.

Domestic duties and personal hygiene tasks

Cleaning the home can become very difficult when suffering from renal failure.  Home care staff can take care of a range of domestic duties for the client including cleaning bathrooms, vacuuming, mopping, sweeping, doing the laundry, dusting, removing clutter, organizing the kitchen and much more.  This will ensure the client’s home is hygienic and tidy.

Home care staff can also help the client have a shower, go to the toilet, get dressed and maintain a high level of personal hygiene.

Assistant with medications

Clients who have renal failure often have to deal with a variety of medications.  It can become difficult to manage those medications.  Caregivers can pick up medications from the pharmacy, and ensure that the client gets the correct dosage at the correct time.

If you are interested in learning more about how to manage renal disease with home care and how All Heart Home Care can help clients with Renal Failure, contact us today at 619-736-4677.  We offer free in-home consultations and can explain all of the benefits obtained from using a home care service!