Support for Caregivers provides tips, guidance, and resources to help those assisting loved ones with kidney conditions.
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Caregivers play an important role in the health of a patient or loved one. Many family members and friends who assist someone who has a kidney condition do not think of themselves as caregivers. If you help with household activities, personal care activities, transportation, or even just listening and offering advice, then you are a caregiver.
As a caregiver, you are a vital member of the care team, and you can expect to be included in the care of your loved one. You can expect our doctors to spend time with you, listen to you, and answer your questions. You can rest assured knowing that your loved one is in expert hands. You don’t just get one doctor when you work with DRG, you get our group of 30 doctors, who are able to work together to deliver the best treatment for your loved one.
Here are some tips for loved ones and caregivers.
Stay in the know.
• Attend educational and training events. Dallas Renal Group offers educational events and encourages our patients and their caregivers to attend. Please visit our website to register for an event in your area.
• Keep track of symptoms or other health issues.
• Be present during doctor visits, and ask questions.
Encourage a healthy, active lifestyle.
• Eat healthy foods recommended by your dietitian.
• Exercise or go on walks with your loved one.
Be prepared.
• Have an emergency plan in place.
• Keep important information up to date and accessible.
• If traveling, have a plan before you leave town.
• Take time for yourself.
Part of the Administration for Community Living, this program offers valuable resources for caregivers.
An organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for over 90 million Americans caring for loved ones with chronic conditions, disabilities, or age-related challenges.
Focused on advancing family caregiving by enhancing quality of life through research, innovation, and advocacy.
Supports families caring for adult loved ones with chronic and disabling health conditions.
We treat a variety of kidney conditions and diseases, such as kidney stones or chronic kidney disease. If you have diabetes and/or high blood pressure, you are at higher risk of kidney disease, so it is important to have regular tests to prevent kidney damage. Our team of kidney doctors have a vast array of specialties, from kidney injury to transplantation.
Our team includes both board-certified and board-eligible nephrologists, all highly trained to provide exceptional kidney care.
You can schedule an appointment by calling our office directly or using the contact form on our website. Our staff will guide you through the next steps.
Your loved one’s health is important to us. We do our best to schedule patients as quickly as possible. Wait times may vary.
The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), a federal law, provides certain employees in all states up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave per year to care for themselves, a sick family member (limited to a spouse, child or parent), or a new child without losing their jobs or health care insurance. Note that this law applies only to companies with 50 or more employees and that an employee must have worked at least 52 days full-time or 1,250 hours during the previous year before taking FMLA leave.
Caring for yourself is one of the most important things you can do as a caregiver. When your needs are taken care of, the person you care for will benefit too. Respite care provides family caregivers with temporary relief from day-to-day caregiving tasks, varying from a few hours to several weeks. Respite services can be provided through in-home care agencies, adult day services, facilities that allow short-term stays, individuals you hire directly or from friends and relatives willing to volunteer.
Respite assistance is part of many caregiver support programs, including the Family Caregiver Support Program (FCSP) – available from your local department on aging. In addition, many private or nonprofit organizations offer fee-for-service respite assistance, including in-home assistance, a short-term stay in an assisted living facility or nursing home, or adult day services. Volunteer respite services are also available in many communities to provide companionship, protective supervision and other assistance.
Don’t wait until you are overwhelmed and exhausted or your health fails. Respite services, as well as support groups with other caregivers and help from your family and friends, can be invaluable. Reaching out for help when you need it is an important part of the job.
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