Hemodialysis

Individuals with advanced kidney disease (known as end-stage renal disease) need dialysis to stay alive.*

But, dialysis is more complicated for older or frail patients with additional health issues such as Alzheimer’s, diabetes or heart disease.

 

Unique Service Improves Care

Toronto Rehab opened Canada’s first dialysis unit for seniors in a rehabilitation setting in 2002. The service is operated in partnership with the University Health Network.

Dialysis usually takes place four hours a day, three days a week. At Toronto Rehab, treatment is shorter and more frequent. Inpatients receive dialysis two hours a day, six days a week.

This unique approach provides patients with more energy. This helps them participate more fully in the daily therapy that require for their other health issues. As a result, the majority of people are able to reach their treatment goals and return home.


* Healthy kidneys remove toxic waste and fluids from the body. When someone’s kidneys stop working, they require a kidney transplant or dialysis. In dialysis, a machine does the job of the kidneys. In hemodialysis, a person’s blood is drawn though a dialysis machine (hemo means blood). It is cleaned and cycled back into the body.