Caring for a Family Member with Renal Failure

If you are caring for a family member with renal failure there are some important things you need to know. First you must understand what renal failure is and what the consequences are on the body of a person with renal failure.

Renal failure occurs when kidney function is compromised or stops completely. The main task of the kidneys is to remove waste from the blood. When the kidneys cease to do so, toxins build up in the blood stream, and if allowed to do so, a person will become extremely ill and eventually die.

Many individuals with renal failure must do dialysis in order to remove waste from the blood. Some patients with renal failure do Peritoneal dialysis, which in short, involves a clear tube (or catheter) being surgically inserted into the abdomen. The abdomen will fill with fluid and the waste goes into the fluid and is usually drained each night.

Another form of dialysis is called hemodialysis. This is when a catheter is surgically inserted into the large vain in the arm or heart and is used to connect to a hemodialysis machine that removes the blood, cleanses it, and returns it to the patient's body.

Dialysis treatments usually work well to keep the body clear of excess toxins. Even so dialysis can make a person tired, weak, and nauseous at times.

If you are caring for a family member with renal failure it's vital that you learn as much as you can about the dialysis treatments. If your family member does hemodialysis it is a good idea to go with them for the procedure at least one time, so you can understand the process, how it works, and how it affects your loved one.

When caring for a family member with renal failure you are going to have to learn a lot about proper nutrition. Usually when renal failure is diagnosed the patient meets with the doctor and a nutritionist that will explain the types of foods that are potentially harmful and which foods are best to eat. In many cases the nutritionist will supply a renal diet cook book to make eating a renal friendly diet much easier.

If that's the case, as the caregiver, you'll have to learn how to prepare meals that are conducive to the patient's health. If you do not receive a renal diet cook book, it's a good idea to purchase one or request one. It's hard to differentiate between foods that are ok to eat and not ok to eat for persons with renal failure, so the cook books are vital.

Because renal failure can weaken the immune system it's important to ensure that individuals who are ill or potentially contagious are not allowed near persons with renal failure. If you are caring for a family member with renal failure, make sure they are not, as much as possible, exposed to people carrying a cold or flu virus.

Renal patients are often very weak and may need your help getting in and out of bed or chairs. They might also need help walking. Make sure you are available to help them move around if this is the case.The most important thing you can do if caring for a family member with renal failure is to talk to their doctor, go to their appointments when you can, speak to their renal care team or dialysis care team. Do everything you can to educate yourself. And most of all be compassionate and understanding.