The risk of kidney failure rises the older you are and statistics show that almost half of the patients on dialysis treatment are over 65 years old.
In terms of the type of dialysis treatment available, many more patients over the age of 65 tend to have hospital-based Haemodialysis (HD), however, there are alternative forms of treatment - Peritoneal dialysis (PD) which is a continuous Home-based treatment, and home haemodialysis, both of which are becoming more readily available for older people.
Home-based treatments are potentially less disruptive for a patient and their family’s lifestyle, particularly as they can avoid the need for transport (which is often expensive and uncomfortable) to and from a dialysis unit, three times a week. In addition, old age is also often accompanied by increasing frailty, memory loss, vision and hearing problems as well as depression and poor nutrition. These factors can make a huge difference to the effectivness of dialysis, but are frequently overlooked.
BOLDE (Broadening Options for Long-term Dialysis in the Elderly) is an exciting project led by Professor Edwina Brown and her team at the Hammersmith Hospital. The project focuses specifically on older patients to see how they cope with their dialysis treatment, by examining their quality of life and discussing whether they had a choice of treatment. The team found that problems with eyesight, remembering things and difficulty reading, can make it difficult to learn about the different types of dialysis treatment and may be preventing patients from feeling they have a real choice. An educational DVD developed as part of this project, follows six different patient stories designed to help older people understand the issues surrounding dialysis options. The DVD will hopefully be available early in the New Year and in collaboration with their medical team, will help people make a better choice of treatment, considering their lifestyle and family circumstances.
“On haemodialysis, my life was not my own. Handing control to nursing staff for 4 hours 3 days a week, surrounded by noisy machines and unhappy patients, returning home after 11 hours, too exhausted to eat and falling into bed. However, Peritoneal dialysis has given me back my life- I am in control of me and am treated like a human being, not just a patient. There are minor drawbacks, such as storage for the fluids and being unable to have a bath, but it is a small price to pay. I am delighted to be involved in this project which demonstrates caring and consideration for those of us on dialysis.”
Valerie, Dialysis Patient, Aged 71
The project is being co-ordinated by Kidney Research UK and is supported by Baxter Healthcare UK, The British Renal Society and Renal Association.
Find out more
If you want to find out more about BOLDE click here