About Dialysis

These web pages are here to provide information for people starting on hemodialysis. We encourage you to read other information such as the "Living with Kidney Disease" manual and pamphlets that provide facts on diet, access, and medications. All patients should receive their own copy of the "Living with Kidney Disease" manual from a nurse in the renal clinic or from the social worker. Copies of pamphlets can be found in the patient waiting room. Learning more about your new surroundings, disease, and treatment will help you adjust to this new situation. If you have questions or need more information, please ask any of your team members.

Welcome to Our Program

The renal team welcomes you and your family to the Grand River Hospital renal program. As a new dialysis patient, we are sure you and your family have many questions. The renal team members are here to help you in any way we can. We believe it is very important for all patients to take part in their care by learning about dialysis treatments.

We are proud of the expertise we have developed in caring for the unique needs of dialysis patients. Please feel comfortable in giving us feedback or suggestions as we continually try to improve our patient care. We are committed to helping you achieve the best possible health and well being.

Information about the Renal Program at the Grand River Hospital

The renal program at Grand River Hospital is one of the largest programs within a community hospital in Ontario. It is the only dialysis program in the region. We provide care to patients in the Waterloo and Wellington counties.

In our program there is a full-care hemodialysis unit in the 7A, B, and C wings, an assisted care hemodialysis unit in the 7C wing, and a satellite hemodialysis unit in Guelph. In the Assisted Care Unit (ACU) and the Guelph Satellite Unit, patients are encouraged to share responsibility for their dialysis treatments. This responsibility helps patients increase independence and have a greater degree of control over their disease and dialysis treatments. Most patients need three to four weeks (5 days a week) of training to learn how to assist in running the dialysis machine. The training takes place at Grand River Hospital in the renal clinic. To be eligible, the person can be of any age but must have stable dialysis treatments, and a desire to take an active role in his or her treatment.

The renal clinic is in the 7A wing. In addition to training people for assisted care dialysis, we train people for home peritoneal dialysis at the renal clinic. People on peritoneal dialysis do their own treatment in their homes each day and come into the renal clinic once a month to be seen by their renal team. We also run a predialysis clinic, which provides medical care, education, and support for people who have some degree of kidney failure, but do not require dialysis. The renal clinic also organizes assessment of patients who wish to be referred to a kidney transplant program.

Our Patients Welcome You

We believe the best advice and encouragement comes from people on dialysis. We asked some of our patients if they would like to add comments to this area. Here is what they had to say:

"If someone facing dialysis asked me, I would tell them something really wonderful happens after they are on dialysis for a little while. You don't feel sick anymore. Your energy returns with a feeling of well being. It's good to feel good again."

"People need to know you can still travel. I go every year on a cruise or a trip." This spry elderly patient has had dialysis in Jamaica, St. Martin, and a 10-day Caribbean cruise. There are cruise ships which offer dialysis. This patient has found the dialysis to be easy to arrange.

"I think it is very important for people on dialysis to have a regular exercise program. I feel pretty good on dialysis, I think the exercise really helps." This retired patient works out for 45 minutes/ six days a week. The exercise routine includes the treadmill, rowing machine, and weights. This patient is likely more fit than many of our dialysis staff members!

"Things have not been easy for me since I started dialysis. I spent quite a few weeks in the hospital and have had trouble with my fistula. But now things are getting
better...the dialysis unit is an upbeat place. The nurses are very kind." This patient
has had ups and downs since starting dialysis but has kept a positive attitude. Now this patient is doing much better, in fact, this patient is walking 40 minutes per day and is looking forward to a transplant from a family member.

"You need to get across the point (to people starting) that dialysis is not the end of the world."