There are over 320,000 people
receiving dialysis therapy in the United States and over 45%
are over the age of 60. Despite many dialysis patients having
significant co-morbid conditions that affect their care, they
have a high quality of life and can be expected to enjoy extra
years of life afforded by dialysis. However, this is not true
for all patients. About 20% of patients withdraw from dialysis
prior to death, and many die from heart disease, infections,
and other causes while continuing dialysis. For these patients,
end-of-life care is an important part of their treatment plan.
This website is dedicated
to those patients and to all the caring staff in hospitals,
dialysis units, and hospice organizations who are committed
to helping patients with death, the final stage of growth.(1)
This website has been developed
by the Kidney End-of-Life Coalition and is
intended to be a dynamic site with links to many other websites
and resources addressing end-of-life concerns. Contact
us with questions; your feedback is always appreciated.
(1) DEATH,
The Final Stage of Growth by Elizabeth Kubler Ross,Touchstone,
1997.
The Mid-Atlantic Renal Coalition
was awarded
the American Association of Kidney Patients'
2007 Dominick Gentile, MD, Memorial
Award
in recognition of its Kidney End-of-Life Coalition.
The award is given annually to an ESRD Network in recognition
of
its maintenance of a developed program that significantly
benefits patients.
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