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    1. About Kidney Disease
      1. OVERVIEW
      2. Understanding Chronic Kidney Disease
      3. Kidney Disease Stages
      4. What Is a Nephrologist?
      5. What to Expect with CKD
      6. Kidney Disease Management
      7. Understanding Acute Kidney Injury
      8. How Kidneys Work
      9. Take a FREE CLASS on Kidney Disease
    2. Treatments
      1. OVERVIEW
      2. Dialysis Basics
      3. Benefits of Home Dialysis
      4. Home Peritoneal Dialysis
      5. Home Hemodialysis
      6. Sign up to Talk to a Home Dialysis Expert
      7. In-Center Hemodialysis
      8. Transplant
      9. Insurance & Managing Costs
      10. Choosing Not to Treat
    3. Life On Dialysis
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    Find a Dialysis Center

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      1. About Kidney Disease
        1. Understanding Chronic Kidney Disease
          1. Symptoms
          2. Risk Factors
          3. Causes
          4. Diagnosis and Testing
          5. GFR Calculator
        2. Kidney Disease Stages
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          2. Stage 2
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          5. Stage 5
        3. What Is a Nephrologist?
        4. What to Expect with CKD
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          1. Kidney Diet Basics
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          5. High Blood Pressure
        6. Understanding Acute Kidney Injury
          1. Acute Kidney Injury Treatment and Recovery
        7. How Kidneys Work
        8. Take a FREE CLASS on Kidney Disease
      2. Treatments
        1. Dialysis Basics
          1. How Does a Hemodialysis Machine Work
          2. Starting Dialysis
          3. Types of Dialysis Access
          4. Your Care Plan
          5. Dialysis Medications
          6. Monitoring Your Lab Results
        2. Benefits of Home Dialysis
        3. Home Peritoneal Dialysis
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          2. Getting Prepared
          3. PD Access
          4. PD Training
          5. PD Monitoring
          6. Your Care Team
        4. Home Hemodialysis
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          2. Getting Prepared
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          4. HD Monitoring
          5. Your Care Team
        5. Sign up to Talk to a Home Dialysis Expert
        6. In-Center Hemodialysis
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          2. What to Expect
          3. Types of Vascular Access for Hemodialysis
          4. Your Care Team
          5. How to Choose a Center
        7. Transplant
          1. Finding a Kidney Donor
          2. Considering Kidney Donation
        8. Insurance & Managing Costs
          1. Understanding Medicare Coverage
          2. Understanding Medicare Advantage
          3. Understanding Employer Plans
        9. Choosing Not to Treat
      3. Life On Dialysis
        1. Your Emotional Health While on Dialysis
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      4. Recipes & Nutrition
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        2. Managing Your Diet
          1. Eating Well on a CKD Diet
          2. Eating Well on a Dialysis Diet
          3. Salt and Kidney Disease
          4. Potassium and Kidney Disease
          5. Phosphorus and Kidney Disease
          6. Talking With Your Dietitian
        3. Fluid Management on Dialysis
        4. Dialysis Diet Planning
          1. Kidney-Friendly Shopping
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          4. A Chef’s Advice | Chef Aaron McCargo on Kidney Friendly Meals
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      1. Home
      2. Treatments
      3. Choosing Not to Treat

      Choosing Supportive Care without Dialysis

      Share:

      There may be times when dialysis isn’t the right treatment choice for someone with end stage renal disease (ESRD). Other critical health issues or quality-of-life considerations may lead to this decision.

      If you decide against dialysis, you may opt for supportive care treatments that focus on maintaining quality of life, not extending life. This treatment approach is called supportive care without dialysis or palliative care. Studies have shown that it’s a reasonable option for some people with ESRD who are elderly and/or coping with multiple serious medical issues and who may experience a lower quality of life on dialysis treatment.

      Choosing supportive care without dialysis is, of course, a big decision and should be made with careful consideration—as well as involvement from your doctor and loved ones.

      Renal support network
      House with heart icon

      Understanding what to expect

      Supportive care without dialysis focuses on relief from the discomfort and pain of kidney failure symptoms, such as swelling and shortness of breath. As ESRD progresses, doctors may also prescribe medications for pain, nausea and other uncomfortable symptoms, as well as order home health or hospice care. You can learn more about supportive or palliative care for ESRD here.

      People who choose supportive care without dialysis may live for months or sometimes a year or more. However, without dialysis or a transplant, a person with ESRD will eventually die a natural death. If a person chooses not to go on or continue dialysis, the kidneys will eventually stop working. The time frame for kidneys to completely shut down varies by person.

      Thinking icon

      Thinking about supportive care rather than dialysis

      When considering your treatment options for ESRD, it’s important to be as informed as possible and share decision making with your doctor and loved ones. Be honest about how you’re feeling and listen to any questions and concerns from your family—this is a decision to make together. If you’re unclear about how you feel or what to choose, ask your doctor to recommend a social worker or counselor if you don’t already have one.

      Talking icon

      Some considerations to weigh

      Talk to your doctor or social worker about:

      • How dialysis treatment impacts your overall health and other health conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease 
      • How you want—and are able—to spend your time
      • What will allow a greater quality of life in terms of social life, job, diet, travel, etc.
      • Your ability to start and continue on dialysis, plus the pros and cons of dialysis treatment options 
      • How the ESRD treatment you choose will affect your loved ones and what preparations should be made ahead

      Kidney disease treatment decision guide.

      Make well-thought-out decisions

      As you navigate options for treating kidney failure, take the time to gather the relevant facts and understand the aspects of different treatments.
      get started using this TREATMENT DECISION GUIDE
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