Did you know that 1 in 7 U.S. adults have kidney disease, and yet 90% of them don’t know it? Add the fact that from 2002 to 2019 there was an 88.2% increase in those with end-stage renal (kidney) disease, and you can see how many Americans are affected by this illness.

But those are mere numbers. They don’t tell the entire story. 

When you or someone you love is struggling with end-stage renal disease, you realize that every moment is precious, and quality of life becomes even more important. It’s during this time that hospice care for kidney failure can make a huge difference.

We work closely with patients who have renal failure in hospice care, providing comprehensive symptom management and the compassion they deserve. At 3HC, we treat you like family, providing strength and support for this stage of life’s journey. We invite you to see why we’re the area’s well-respected hospice and to get care today!

When Is Hospice Care Recommended for Patients With Kidney Failure?

There are several indicators of when hospice care for kidney failure may be needed. Often, the subject of declining curative treatment arises when patients exhibit symptoms such as:

• Uncontrolled pain
• Extreme nausea
• Vomiting
• Shortness of breath

In addition, patients may also have difficulty performing tasks of everyday living such as bathing and dressing. 

In order to qualify for hospice, patients must meet two main criteria: 1) they must have a prognosis of six months or less to live 2) they must decide to forgo curative treatment.

Is Dialysis Continued When a Kidney Failure Patient Enters Hospice?

Typically, patients who want hospice care must first stop dialysis treatments. Medicare won’t pay simultaneously for dialysis and hospice care because to qualify for hospice care the patient must forgo any curative treatments. Dialysis is a part of a treatment plan to keep patients alive. 

Patients with end-stage kidney disease often enroll in hospice care very late in their illness, which results in much shorter hospice stays. In fact, only 20% of Medicare patients with end-stage renal disease receive hospice care before death. 

This is why hospice care for kidney failure is so vital; it enables patients to take advantage of symptom management, enabling them to have more quality time at this point in their journeys. 

How Does Hospice Address Common Symptoms of Kidney Failure?

Some of the ways hospice care for kidney failure addresses common symptoms include:

• Pain management: This includes medications and other pain management strategies. At 3HC, we only use opioid medications when it is appropriate and safe to do so. 
• Therapies to combat fatigue: Fatigue is a common symptom of kidney failure. We can work to help identify the factors that are contributing to the fatigue and take appropriate measures to improve your quality of life. 
• Treating nausea and vomiting: We can work with you to adjust both your diet and medications to ease these troublesome symptoms. 
• Improving breathing: Shortness of breath is another symptom. We can help by providing oxygen and working closely with your physician, who may prescribe medications as needed.

Let Our Family Help You Navigate Hospice Care for Kidney Failure

We know that caring for patients extends beyond mere medical care. We seek to walk with you during this challenging journey with compassion, respect and love. 

We treat every patient as if they were members of our own family. We provide not only the highest levels of clinical excellence, but we also recognize the value of emotional, spiritual and practical support. 

Remember, we’re here to do much more than treat symptoms, we’re here to help our patients and their families when they need us most. Contact us today to get care.