September 08, 2016
There are lots of ways to help a person with kidney disease fight their medical battles: offer positive encouragement, help with family needs, donate cars, and sometimes a shoulder to cry on. But there’s also some things you can do to help them with the emotional side of their battle. Helping a kidney patient find peace and comfort in the midst of their treatments can help them to relax, which can help prevent an increase in symptoms.
For patients who decide to pursue home hemodialysis, the emotional battle can feel pretty daunting, especially at the beginning. When medical treatments come home it can feel like an invasion of their space. But it can also be a life-saving decision and more comfortable than a treatment center. Helping a kidney patient find peace and comfort in the midst of their dialysis treatments can help them to relax, which can help prevent an increase in symptoms.
If you know a kidney patient who has a home dialysis treatment area set up, you can help them turn this necessary time into a relaxing experience and not just a painful necessity. Here are a few ideas to help turn a corner of the house dedicated to medical treatment into a personalized "spa" spot.
Comfortable Chair
The first requirement is a comfortable chair. Dialysis takes a long time and having a comfortable place to sit, with easy access to the dialysis machine and its requirements, can make it a much easier process.
A Blanket and Pillow
Not everyone can actually sleep during dialysis, but many patients find that they feel cold while they sit through the process. A comfortable blanket to tuck around them and a pillow to rest their head is a wonderful idea.
A Pleasant Fragrance
Fragrance has the power to lift our mood. When you’re undergoing a medical treatment, no matter how routine, you could always use a boost to your mood. Try installing a small essential oil diffuser and try scenting the area with lavender, which is known to help with relaxation or wild or vanilla, which also induces feelings of peace.
Calming Sounds
Some people love the sound of moving water, others like the soft sound of wind chimes, still others love relaxing music. Providing a source of relaxing music can turn the dialysis process into a spa-like experience. The hum of the machine may mask soft sounds, but music, or recorded nature sounds, can be turned up to a higher volume.
Greenery
Houseplants, whether real or silk, can have a wonderful effect on mood. Providing an easy care live plant, or an easy clean silk one, can make an area beautiful and more pleasant for a dialysis patient.