Home Dialysis - Home Hemodialysis

Dialysis machines are sometimes available for use at home. These machines have many built-in safety features.

The hemodialysis team decides if a patient is suitable for home hemodialysis. Such patients must have someone around (a partner or family member) to help every time they are on the machine.

Some Dialysis centers have a designated home hemodialysis nurse, who provides education and support for home hemodialysis patients. These specialist nurses also monitor the patient's treatment and provide a link between the patient and the staff at the Dialysis center.

This nurse thoroughly trains the patient in use of the home dialysis machine. This usually takes from 1 to 3 months because there are many technical aspects to the treatment that must be fully understood.

Home hemodialysis treatments may be done three times a week while the patient is awake and is being monitored by another person in the home. Patients have considerable freedom in deciding when to be dialyzed. They do not have to travel to a Dialysis center for a treatment session. For these reasons, home hemodialysis can be an ideal option for patients who value their independence or need to fit their treatments into a busy schedule.

You need a special water supply at home and space to accommodate the hemodialysis machine and stocks of dialysis supplies.