Renal Failure

Longleaf Hospice specializes in renal failure hospice care.

Overview

Understanding Renal Failure

Renal failure also referred to as kidney failure, can be explained as when the kidneys stop working suddenly, and this can happen for a variety of reasons.

The main job of your kidneys is to filter waste and toxins out of your blood. The kidneys also remove extra fluid from the blood, as well as control a person’s blood pressure. When kidneys are not working properly, all of the duties they perform become hindered.

How Can Longleaf Hospice Care in Atlanta Support a Patient With Renal Failure?

At Longleaf Hospice and Palliative Care in Atlanta, Georgia, our hospice team consists of:

  • Doctors
  • Nurses
  • Social workers
  • Counselors
  • Administrators
  • Chaplains
  • Volunteers

 

Each hospice team member provides our end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients and their families with empathic palliative care.

Book a Free Consultation

We'd love to provide some clarity for any questions you may have.

When you book a free consultation with us, we will answer any questions you might have about Hospice Care, our services, and our team. We want to understand your loved one’s health condition. If they are eligible for Hospice care, we will work together to figure out the best plan for their unique needs.

End-Stage Renal Failure Symptoms

Towards the final stages of renal failure, doctors can do little to extend life expectancy, so we focus on buffering the effects of kidney failure symptoms by relieving pain.

As renal disease progresses, the body is less able to filter out waste products. These byproducts build up in the organ system, eventually causing organ failure. Hospice care is an integral part of the end-of-life treatment plan because it helps to relieve the symptoms and pain of this illness.

When Should A Renal Disease Patient Go On Hospice?

Patients nearing the end of life may apply for hospice care through their attending physician. Your doctor will usually diagnose end-stage renal disease (ESRD) when no other options exist, with consideration of your pain levels, health, and other symptoms. Palliative care is a shift in medical philosophy from attempting to cure a disease to caring for the patient’s physical and emotional needs, in particular, to relieve pain and to improve quality of life. To determine if you (or your loved one) qualify for palliative care, your doctor will check to see if the following three factors of renal failure are present:
  • A renal transplant or dialysis treatment is not an option
  • You have a creatinine clearance of 8.0 mg/dl
  • Your serum creatinine clearance is more than 8 mg/dl

If you do not meet the criteria for diagnosis of end-stage renal disease, you may still qualify for hospice care. Patients older than 60 who have comorbidities, such as diabetes or heart disease, may qualify, depending on whether you have acute kidney disease or chronic kidney disease. As the leading hospice care provider in Georgia, we have seen our share of traumatic grief. That’s why we have put together a free, four-component program to help people cope with the death of their loved ones.

How Kidney Failure Patients Can Request a Hospice Care Evaluation

Your primary physician or your kidney doctor (nephrologist) may recommend that you enter hospice at any stage, especially when your renal disease becomes non-responsive and you have a high symptom burden and kidney failure symptoms. At this stage, they may stop dialysis.

Patients, families, and social workers may also advocate that you receive hospice care. The hospice evaluation can help you and your family make tough decisions. This evaluation will also inform you about how palliative care from the hospice care team can meet your medical needs and prepare you and your family as you approach the end of your life.

Hospice Care in Your Home or Assisted Living Facility

We provide a complete home care program to support patients with end-stage chronic kidney disease, most of whom are no longer on dialysis. Our trained nurses will make appointments to see you and administer medication as necessary. We’ll also carefully monitor your condition as your kidney disease progresses.

You Are Not Alone

For family members of someone affected by renal failure, it can be very difficult to handle this situation. We recognize what you are going through. At Longleaf Hospice & Palliative Care, we understand the challenges of dealing with renal failure and offer compassionate care for people living with the condition.

We provide renal failure palliative care services that include pain management treatment plans, counseling sessions, and grief support groups. Our caring team is specially trained for helping families who have loved ones with renal failure.

You don’t have to go through this challenging time alone. Contact us today and let us help you navigate your loved one’s diagnosis.

A Coordinated Care Plan for Every Level

We work with our hospice patients to create a coordinated care plan to manage pain and other serious illness symptoms and help make their final months and weeks as pleasant and comfortable as possible.

In addition to serving kidney patients receiving hospice care, we also provide counseling to family members and address personal concerns. Knowing that their family has support usually helps a hospice patient feel more at ease. It also prepares you and your family members to face end-stage renal failure in a calm, caring environment rather than a hospital emergency room.

Assistance with Emotions and Spiritual Needs

One of the primary benefits of dealing with a hospice rather than being in a hospital is the emotional and spiritual support you can receive.

Your medical team will aid in managing symptoms, mental and physical. We can also bring in religious clergy of any faith to provide you with spiritual support and counseling, which many people find comforting as they approach the end of their lives.

Caregiver (Respite) Care

Emotional and spiritual support is an essential service of Longleaf Hospice. For you as a patient, it can help you grapple with spiritual questions and cope with your family’s sadness and grief, which can express themselves in many ways.

We provide special types of support and grief counseling for family members, both before and after their loved one’s death. Our team of counselors and hospice volunteers can guide family members through the wilderness of the grieving process as they mourn the loss of a pivotal figure in their lives.

Assistance With Financing

Medicaid and Medicare typically cover eligible patients for most of their expenses. Our team works hard to minimize your overall costs without impacting your standard of care. For the general Medicare population, this usually means little out-of-pocket expense. Medicaid and Medicare patients with Longleaf will receive their medications, medical equipment, and supplies.

However, privately-insured hospice patients may need to pay for their room and board. You or a designated family member can check with your insurance provider for more details about your plan’s coverage.

We also invite you to contact our Longleaf hospice care team for advice on financial matters. Our social workers can provide knowledgeable support in this area.

We recommend that you draw up advance directives (also called a living will) to communicate your wishes ahead of time. You should also consult an estate planning attorney to designate a power of attorney who can make financial or medical decisions on your behalf when you can no longer do so.

Benefits Of Longleaf Hospice Care for Kidney Disease Patients

At Longleaf Hospice and Palliative Care, we adopt a holistic approach to symptom management and end-of-life care. Kidney failure is a challenging disease to cope with, but the pain symptoms are manageable.

People Also Ask

When dialysis patients halt treatment or cannot get a kidney transplant, it is time for hospice. Patients over 60 with kidney disease may also consider hospice if they have other comorbid conditions that make self-care challenging.
Yes, you should qualify, depending on how advanced your kidney disease is. Longleaf Hospice & Palliative Care is for end-stage kidney failure patients who have a life expectancy of six months or less.

Our Medical Team Is Here To Support You

If you’re looking for a compassionate, expert hospice team to provide care services for your loved one, look no further than Longleaf Hospice & Palliative Care. Our healthcare professionals have years of experience providing quality care to patients and families facing serious illnesses.

With our 24/7 medical support, you can rest assured that your loved one will receive the best possible care around-the-clock. We will also regularly communicate with their doctor and family caregivers to keep everyone up to date on the patient’s health.

Don’t hesitate to call our Longleaf Hospice & Palliative Care team at 770-939-9179 to learn more about our palliative care services and other helpful information.

Book a Free Consultation

We'd love to provide some clarity for any questions you may have.

When you book a free consultation with us, we will answer any questions you might have about Hospice Care, our services, and our team. We want to understand your loved one’s health condition. If they are eligible for Hospice care, we will work together to figure out the best plan for their unique needs.

Additional Care Options

Explore our other care options to find the best fit for your loved one.

Palliative Care

Care in conjunction with primary treatments as an extra layer of support.

Palliative care focuses on the pain symptoms and stress of a serious illness most often as an adjunct to curative care modalities.

Routine Hospice Care

Provided in a residential setting to ensure comfort and security.

Receive regularly scheduled visits to address the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of your loved ones in your preferred residential setting.

Respite Care

Temporary relief for the patient’s primary caregiver.

Our respite care options allow primary caregivers to take a break, reconnect, disconnect, or just tend to their individual needs.

Crisis Hospice Care

Providing necessary comfort during a pain or symptom crisis.

We offer around-the-clock hospice care services to address the concerns of patients facing life-limiting conditions and provide support for their families.

Grief Support

Receive the support you need during the natural grieving process.

Our team consists of highly trained, kind, and professional members who deliver a care plan for alleviating the grieving process and improving quality of life.

Inpatient Hospice Care

Simple pain and symptom management for families and patients.

Our goal for inpatient hospice care is to improve our patient’s quality of life. We also include the family in our care plan so that everyone receives the support they need.