In Home Care for Kidney Disease
The kidneys are two bean shaped organs located in the middle region of the back, with one on either side of the spinal column. Our kidneys play a major role in maintaining our general health and wellbeing. We can however, live quite well with only one kidney and some people live a healthy life even though born with one missing.
Our kidneys play a major role in maintaining our general health and wellbeing. While bones can break, muscles can waste away and the brain can sleep without risk to life, if both kidneys fail (as happens in end stage kidney failure), our bodies not carry on.
What is kidney Disease?
Kidney disease occurs when the filtering part of your kidneys (nephrons) are damaged, this leads to the build-up of waste and fluids inside the body.
What can go wrong with your kidneys?
Kidney disease is called a silent disease as there are often no warning signs. More often kidney function worsens over a number of years. This is good news because if kidney disease is found early, medication, dietary and lifestyle changes can increase the life of your kidneys and keep you feeling your best for as long as possible.
What are the symptoms of Kidney Disease?
When symptoms do occur the initial signs may be general, such as feeling tired or generalised itching. As kidney disease progresses, the symptoms can include changes in the urine (reduced volume, discolouration, blood or pus), nausea and vomiting, and appetite loss. Other symptoms include swollen or numb hands and feet (because of water retention), weakness and lethargy, darkened skin and muscle cramps.
Acute Kidney Failure is sometimes kidney failure which can happen quickly, caused for example by a sudden loss of large amounts of blood, infection, or an accident. A sudden drop in kidney function is often short lived but can occasionally lead to lasting kidney damage.
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is responsible for substantial burden of illness and premature mortality. If you lose over 1/3 of your kidney function for over 3 months, it is called chronic kidney disease (CKD). Sometimes kidney disease leads to kidney failure, which requires dialysis or a kidney transplant to keep you alive. As kidney function decreases, waste begins to build-up in the blood.
The Daughterly Care Joyful Living Approach™
At Daughterly care we understand that each person’s needs will be different depending on the stage of the disease and the symptoms you may be experiencing. Our services are flexible and our care plans are individually tailored. If your needs change, your care plan can be amended to reflex your new requirements.
Examples of the services we offer include:
- Dietary assistance; helping you plan a diet that limits proteins, sodium, potassium and cholesterol, which can damage the kidneys further.
- Assisting with medications.
- Personal care.
- Taking you to and from appointments.
- Shopping and/or outings.
- Light housekeeping.
- Companionship/Socialisation
- Respite care for your loved ones.
- Liaising with your health care team and/or other community services.
Our Nursing Team of Registered and Enrolled Nurses are available to assist with education, information and more complex clinical care if and when its needed. We offer our services on an hourly, 24 hour and Live In Care basis .
Our friendly office staff will be more than happy to assist with any questions about caring for people living with Kidney disease so give them a call on (02) 9970 7333.
Need more information? To know more about us, read why we started Daughterly Care, and take a look at our services. Meet the stars of our business, our in home Caregivers and case managers and operations team.
Read unsolicited feedback from our clients. We’re always thrilled to receive such kind words.
The next step is easy … contact us for a confidential chat about your needs or to organise your, free no obligation consultation email claireg@daughterlycare.com.au or call us on (02) 9970 7333.