The Japanese Journal of Clinical Dialysis Vol.34 No.2(10)

Theme Rehabilitation therapy in dialysis patients -- training and support
Title MSW's perspective on live-in assistance after discharge from rehabilitation hospitals
Publish Date 2018/02
Author Michiko Honda Koga Hospital 21
[ Summary ] The population of patients with hemodialysis (HD) is aging rapidly. The number of the patients who want to continue their rehabilitation in a rehabilitation hospital is increasing because these patients tend to have co-morbidities such as unexpected fractures or stroke. Our hospital is located in South-East Fukuoka, and it has an HD center and a rehabilitation ward. We, therefore, have an important role to play in the community.
We provide patients with rehabilitation programs to enable them to return to their homes after a limited length of hospital stay. However, time for individual training tends to be limited because of the time taken for HD treatment or the fatigue caused by the HD. The purpose of admission in the rehabilitation ward includes : to provide adequate rehabilitation training so that the patient's activity of daily living (ADL) and quality of life (QOL) can be maintained. Although patients successfully complete the scheduled rehabilitation program during the limited stay, a gradual deterioration in physical function is inevitable. In order to continue the rehabilitation program, considering the patient's life after discharge, live-in assistance should be provided so that information can be shared with a multidisciplinary team, enabling effective communication with patients and their families.
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