By Kathi Niccum, EdD, Education Director, DPC Education Center
Holidays and special days, such as birthdays and anniversaries, occur throughout the year. You may have recently celebrated Thanksgiving and are looking forward to the December holidays.
Initially, though, some people new to or struggling with dialysis may find it challenging to celebrate and to feel the joy of the day. They may worry about how to eat a healthy, kidney-friendly meal if visiting friends or relatives or eating at a restaurant. They may find that they get tired easily and have to figure out how to fit dialysis into their special occasions, especially if they want to travel outside of their community. Holidays are a perfect time for kidney patients to come together and share tips and strategies for overcoming such obstacles and learn how to enjoy the holidays.
This is a great time of year to offer support to those struggling with kidney disease. You can be a resource to other patients. You can encourage those who don’t know how they can go out to eat or prepare a special meal to talk to their dietitian, who will have a lot of ideas and tips for them. You can steer someone who wants to travel to the social worker who can help them learn how to arrange dialysis away from home. The social worker will also be able to help with coping skills and relationship concerns. You also may be able to recommend educational resources that were helpful in your kidney journey as well as encouraging them to talk to the members of their healthcare team for more information and suggestions.
Sometimes new patients are having trouble accepting the changes in their lives. You can encourage them to “live in the present moment” and to “let go” of what they could have done differently to either prevent or prolong the start of treatment for kidney failure. You can encourage them to “find the joy” in their lives and to focus on what they can still do (and eat) as opposed to what they need to change. In addition to the religious meaning of some holidays, you may be able to help them see that it is the relationships in our lives that add meaning to the special days. You also may be able to share some tips on how to let others know about their diagnosis of kidney disease or how to “keep the magic alive” in their relationships on anniversaries and Valentine’s Day. Your positive attitude and outlook can be contagious and you can be a role model for others as you celebrate the holidays and special events in your life!
Enjoy the upcoming holidays!
