Resources
For Patients & Families
Palliative Care
If you are reading this, you may be a kidney patient or a family member affected by kidney disease, and treatment is either under way or being discussed. An important part of ongoing discussions with your care providers is a frank talk about the benefits and burdens of treatment options and what is most important to you on this journey.
Whether you have chosen dialysis or not, you certainly want to be comfortable and supported. Palliative care, centered on your wishes, can be an important addition to the good care you are already getting. Skilled specialists in this new field can address your need for control of symptoms such as pain, fatigue, nausea and vomiting, a decline in mental functioning, and depression. Palliative care doctors, nurses and social workers can work with your nephrologist or dialysis provider to ensure your well-being, and that of your family members. Ask your care provider if a palliative care consultation can be added to your plan of care.
