| Theme |
Role of home support for elderly dialysis patients -- nursing and care giving |
| Title |
Current status and issues of home dialysis for elderly patients |
| Author |
Akira Saito |
Division of Nephrology, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Tokai University School of Medicine |
| [ Summary ] |
Development of support systems for dialysis patients who are unable to adequately conduct treatment procedures themselves is a matter of great urgency for the Japanese medical community. The high and increasing number of elderly patients receiving dialysis has not yet been adequately addressed in Japan. This has resulted in a strain on the national health care system, including a shortage of beds for critically ill patients. Home hemodialysis (HHD) has recently been implemented for treatment of elderly patients who are unable to conduct these procedures themselves. This is in spite of the fact that HHD was originally designed to promote rehabilitation of dialysis patients. Provision of these services in elderly care facilities as well as in patient's homes may make them more widely available, while lowering costs to the national health care system. However, care must be taken to maintain high levels of care for dialysis patients when implementing these suggested changes in treatment. |