What to Expect from Home Dialysis Training

If you’re considering doing dialysis at home but are feeling intimidated by how much there is to learn, breathe easy—there are a lot of fantastic resources right at your fingertips. With your personalized home dialysis training program, a nurse will instruct you with hands-on training, digital lessons, and ongoing support. Learn at your own pace with expert guidance until you feel ready to take on your new role with confidence.

Home dialysis puts you in control of your end stage renal disease (ESRD) management. You will be the one administering your own treatments in the comfort of your home, which gives you the flexibility to fit dialysis into your schedule.

Your home dialysis nurse will give you one-on-one training to explain everything you need to know. As you learn in person, you can watch videos, listen to lessons, and practice doing your own treatments. Whether you learn best by seeing, listening, or doing, your home dialysis training program is built to give you the most complete education possible.

Every person’s home dialysis experience is different, so whether you’re doing home peritoneal dialysis (PD) or home hemodialysis (HD), your kidney care team will prepare a home dialysis training program that addresses your unique situation.

Beyond in-person support, user-friendly technology is an important tool for developing the confidence to do dialysis at home. The digital educational experience gives you a full understanding of kidney disease and the home dialysis process. Your lessons will also cover important safety topics like how to keep your access and equipment clean, keep good records, troubleshoot, and be prepared in case of an emergency. Lessons explore each topic in depth while games, videos, and other fun multimedia tools make learning interesting.

There’s no one-size-fits-all plan, but home dialysis training typically takes about one to two weeks for PD and between four and five weeks for HD. Some people choose to work with their home dialysis nurse a little longer before they’re ready to take the reins.

Easily manage your treatments anytime, anywhere with PatientHub. There, you can review your lessons, track your progress, order supplies, and send secure online messages to your care team.

A team of kidney care experts will support you every step of your dialysis journey.

• Your nephrologist—or kidney doctor—works with you to understand your needs and lifestyle then starts your journey by prescribing a treatment plan and monitoring your progress.
• Your home dialysis nurse will be by your side, guiding you through home dialysis with one-on-one education from start to finish.
• Your social worker will help you navigate the emotional and social ups and downs of kidney disease. They’ll help you get the support you need, find resources, and much more.
• If you have a care partner—a friend, family member, or other trusted partner—you can learn together. They can help you do your treatments, provide moral support, help you maintain your schedule, or just keep you company during dialysis treatment.
• If you’re looking for additional support, consider joining a community group or expanding your support network. Our Kidney Care Community is home to over 4,000 members who share their experiences, ask questions, read articles, and stay connected.

Home dialysis means you can choose where you do treatments, and your nurse can help you set up the right space in your house, apartment, or wherever you live. Look for a clean, comfortable, well-lit area that has easy access to an electrical outlet and bathroom drain. You’ll need room to store your supplies, and your home dialysis training nurse can help you get creative with small spaces. You’ll also need a phone nearby in case you need to reach out for assistance.

Learning how to do your own dialysis treatments correctly, safely, and as prescribed takes training. Your home dialysis training program will guide you through everything you need to know—you’ll learn about kidney disease, your dialysis equipment, and much more. With a home dialysis training nurse by your side, you’ll soon be ready to take your treatments into your own hands.

After you’ve finished your home dialysis training program, you’ll still have access to all your learning materials through PatientHub. Even after you’ve graduated to doing treatments on your own, nurses will always be available to help you by phone and monitor your labs remotely. With ongoing access to resources, support, and your online community, you can be confident in choosing home dialysis. Remember, at home doesn’t have to mean alone!