Home Dialysis
Spend More Time Doing What You Love
Home dialysis patients can dialyze from the comfort of home, giving them better control of their treatment schedules, more time for themselves, their families, their jobs and the activities they enjoyed before starting dialysis.
If you currently dialyze in a center, home dialysis could still be an option for you. Learn about the two types of dialysis you can perform at home and discuss with your treating physician.
Types of Home Dialysis
Peritoneal Dialysis (PD)
Peritoneal Dialysis (PD)
Home Hemodialysis (HHD)
Home Hemodialysis (HHD)
Peritoneal Dialysis (PD)
PD is a needle-free treatment done at home or while you are at work that uses the lining of the abdomen to filter waste from the blood. It is the treatment most similar to your natural kidney function1 and can be performed during the day or at night while you sleep. Note: Your physician may order additional daytime therapy as residual renal function declines.
Some of the potential benefits of PD include:
- Control of your own treatment and a more-flexible schedule
- Greater ability to pursue personal interests
- Functions more like natural kidneys
- Supports preservation of remaining kidney function, leading to better clinical outcomes
- Better transplant success rate2
Learn More
PD is a needle-free treatment done at home or while you are at work that uses the lining of the abdomen to filter waste from the blood. It is the treatment most similar to your natural kidney function1 and can be performed during the day or at night while you sleep. Note: Your physician may order additional daytime therapy as residual renal function declines.
Some of the potential benefits of PD include:
- Control of your own treatment and a more-flexible schedule
- Greater ability to pursue personal interests
- Functions more like natural kidneys
- Supports preservation of remaining kidney function, leading to better clinical outcomes
- Better transplant success rate2
Home Hemodialysis (HHD)
HHD works much like in-center hemodialysis but is done at home with a smaller, more user-friendly machine that cleans toxins from your blood. With the help of a care partner to perform the treatments, there are many potential benefits HHD patients can experience, such as:
- The ability to dialyze in the comfort of home
- Greater ability to travel
- Shorter recovery time after treatments2
- Fewer medications required3
Learn More
HHD works much like in-center hemodialysis but is done at home with a smaller, more user-friendly machine that cleans toxins from your blood. With the help of a care partner to perform the treatments, there are many potential benefits HHD patients can experience, such as:
- The ability to dialyze in the comfort of home
- Greater ability to travel
- Shorter recovery time after treatments2
- Fewer medications required3
Peritoneal Dialysis (PD)
PD is a needle-free treatment done at home or while you are at work that uses the lining of the abdomen to filter waste from the blood. It is the treatment most similar to your natural kidney function1 and can be performed during the day or at night while you sleep. Note: Your physician may order additional daytime therapy as residual renal function declines.
Some of the potential benefits of PD include:
- Control of your own treatment and a more-flexible schedule
- Greater ability to pursue personal interests
- Functions more like natural kidneys
- Supports preservation of remaining kidney function, leading to better clinical outcomes
- Better transplant success rate2
Home Hemodialysis (HHD)
HHD works much like in-center hemodialysis but is done at home with a smaller, more user-friendly machine that cleans toxins from your blood. With the help of a care partner to perform the treatments, there are many potential benefits HHD patients can experience, such as:
- The ability to dialyze in the comfort of home
- Greater ability to travel
- Shorter recovery time after treatments2
- Fewer medications required3
DaVita serves more home dialysis patients than any other provider in the U.S.4
If you think home dialysis may be the right treatment option for you, talk to your doctor and find a home dialysis program near you. Call 1-800-424-6589 now to talk to one of our placement specialists or start a search.
SearchHome Dialysis Basics
Potential Health Benefits
Potential Lifestyle Benefits
Common Home Dialysis Concerns
Getting Started
Shorter recovery time after treatments2
Better transplant success rate2
Better blood pressure control5
Improved sleep reported6
Convenience and flexibility
Ability to free up the day by dialyzing at night (Note: Your physician may order additional daytime therapy as residual renal function declines)
Greater ability to travel
Fewer trips to the dialysis center
Pets: You do not have to give up your beloved companions but they should not be present in the room where you dialyze while you connect or disconnect to the machine.
Age: There is no age cap or requirement to receive home dialysis.
Infections: Use proper training and hand-washing techniques to help avoid infections.
Time commitment: By not traveling to and from a dialysis center for each treatment, home dialysis patients can get more time back in their day.
#1 Talk with your doctor
Speak with your doctor candidly about your interest in home dialysis. Ask about the potential benefits and any medical risks, as well as your treatment options and how your choice could affect your lifestyle and overall health.
#2 Start home dialysis training
Once you and your doctor decide that home dialysis is right for you, you and your care partner (a friend or family member) will start a comprehensive safety and training program with your care team. Training is customized to meet your specific needs, and will provide you the education, tools and support needed to stay healthy and safe.
#3 Get your home ready
Because you'll perform treatments from home, you'll need to make room to store equipment and supplies. Although the equipment and supplies you need vary based on your choice of treatment, it's essential to make sure you have a comfortable and sanitary environment dedicated for your treatments.
#4 Receive ongoing care
Even though you do not have to treat at a center, it’s important to understand that you're never alone when you do home dialysis. You will maintain regular contact with your doctor and dialysis nurses who will closely monitor and track your care. In most cases, you'll also make a monthly visit to meet with your health care team and talk regularly by phone about any issues or concerns.
Shorter recovery time after treatments2
Better transplant success rate2
Better blood pressure control5
Improved sleep reported6
Convenience and flexibility
Ability to free up the day by dialyzing at night (Note: Your physician may order additional daytime therapy as residual renal function declines)
Greater ability to travel
Fewer trips to the dialysis center
Pets: You do not have to give up your beloved companions but they should not be present in the room where you dialyze while you connect or disconnect to the machine.
Age: There is no age cap or requirement to receive home dialysis.
Infections: Use proper training and hand-washing techniques to help avoid infections.
Time commitment: By not traveling to and from a dialysis center for each treatment, home dialysis patients can get more time back in their day.
#1 Talk with your doctor
Speak with your doctor candidly about your interest in home dialysis. Ask about the potential benefits and any medical risks, as well as your treatment options and how your choice could affect your lifestyle and overall health.
#2 Start home dialysis training
Once you and your doctor decide that home dialysis is right for you, you and your care partner (a friend or family member) will start a comprehensive safety and training program with your care team. Training is customized to meet your specific needs, and will provide you the education, tools and support needed to stay healthy and safe.
#3 Get your home ready
Because you'll perform treatments from home, you'll need to make room to store equipment and supplies. Although the equipment and supplies you need vary based on your choice of treatment, it's essential to make sure you have a comfortable and sanitary environment dedicated for your treatments.
#4 Receive ongoing care
Even though you do not have to treat at a center, it’s important to understand that you're never alone when you do home dialysis. You will maintain regular contact with your doctor and dialysis nurses who will closely monitor and track your care. In most cases, you'll also make a monthly visit to meet with your health care team and talk regularly by phone about any issues or concerns.
Connect with Others
Connect with others who are considering or on home dialysis in the myDaVita forums.
Learn to manage your kidney health.
Get your questions answered at a no-cost Kidney Smart® class.
1. PD: Burkart J and Golper T. www.update.com. Patient information: Peritoneal dialysis (Beyond the Basics). HHD: Galland R et al. Kidney International. 2001;60:155-1560. | 2. PD: Molnar, MZ et al. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 7: 332–341, 2012. HHD: Weinhandl, E et al. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2012 May; 23(5):895–904. | 3. PD: Renal Resource Center. An Introduction to Peritoneal Dialysis. www.renalresource.com. HHD: Jaber BL et al. Am J Kidney Dis. 2010;56:531-539. Nocturnal: Buqeia A et al. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2009 Apr;4(4):778-783. | 4. Nephrology News & Issues, Sept. 2018. | 5. PD: St Peter WL et al. BMC Nephrol. 2013; 14:249. HHD: FHN Trial Group. N Engl J Med. 2010 Dec;363(24):2287-2300. Nocturnal: Ranganathan D et al. Indian J Nephrol. 2012 Sep-Oct;22(5):323-332. | 6. PD: Theofilou P. J Clin Med Res. 2011 May 19;3(3):132-8. HHD: Jaber BL et al. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2011;6(5):1049-1056. Nocturnal: Buqeja A et al. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2009 Apr;4(4):778-783.