Kidney disease can occur at any age, but it is more prevalent in the elderly. After all, your kidneys age with you. According to a recent Johns Hopkins University study, more than half of seniors over the age of 75 have kidney disease. This condition is also more common in adults over the age of 60 than in the general population.
Do you know that as people age, their kidney function declines? Unfortunately, many elderly people may not realize this until they begin to exhibit symptoms of kidney disease. That is why the National Kidney Foundation encourages people over the age of 60 to get screened for kidney disease.
Yearly Screenings for Kidney Disease
The NKF recommends yearly urine albumin screenings. This test detects protein in your urine, which is one of the first signs of kidney damage. A blood test for kidney function is also part of the screening. The NKF recommends regular screenings for members of other high-risk groups, in addition to annual screenings for seniors. Those with high blood pressure, diabetes, or a family history of kidney failure are among those at risk.
Kidney disease usually develops slowly and with few symptoms. Most people do not realize they have a problem until it is too late. Knowing about kidney disease is the first step toward preventing or slowing its progression. This is especially important for those who are vulnerable.
Kidney Disease Facts
- The NKF recommends annual screenings for anyone over 60.
- This disease kills more people each year than prostate or breast cancer.
- Risk factors for kidney disease include kidney stones, high blood pressure, prolonged use of OTC pain medications, diabetes, a family history of kidney failure, and being over 60 years old.
- Of the more than 120,000 Americans on the organ transplant waitlist, almost 100,000 await a lifesaving kidney.
- Over 37 million Americans have chronic kidney disease, and most are unaware.
How Your Kidneys Work
Each side of your spine, beneath your rib cage, has two kidneys. Each one is roughly the size of an adult fist. Despite their small size, kidneys perform numerous vital and complex functions that keep your body in balance. Among these functions are the following:
- Help remove excess fluid and waste.
- Release hormones that regulate blood pressure.
- Filter blood to keep some compounds and remove others.
- Control red blood cell production.
- Make the vitamins that control growth.
- Help regulate red blood cells, blood pressure, and nutrients like potassium and calcium in the body.
Every day, the kidneys filter and return approximately 200 quarts of fluid to the bloodstream. They excrete about two quarts of fluid as urine and keep the rest in their bodies. For one to eight hours, the bladder stores the excreted urine.
About Chronic Kidney Disease
This disease interferes with kidney function. It includes medical conditions that harm the kidneys and reduce their ability to filter waste from the blood. If left untreated, it can make you feel ill due to increased waste levels in your blood. This can lead to the following issues:
- Anemia
- Nerve damage
- Elevated blood pressure
- Poor dietary health
- Weak bones
This condition, also known as chronic renal disease, or CKD, can increase your risk of developing heart disease. These complications may develop gradually over time. However, early detection and treatment can prevent your condition from worsening. Otherwise, it may lead to kidney failure, necessitating dialysis or an organ transplant.
Top Causes of Kidney Disease
Diabetes and hypertension are responsible for approximately two-thirds of CKD cases.
Diabetes
Diabetes develops when your blood sugar remains elevated for too long. Over time, this can damage many organs in the body, including the eyes, kidneys, nerves, blood vessels, and heart.
Hypertension
Hypertension results from increased blood pressure in the blood vessels. If poorly controlled or uncontrolled, hypertension can lead to kidney disease, strokes, and heart attacks. That said, kidney disease can also cause hypertension.
Other Conditions That Can Affect the Kidneys
Several other conditions can lead to kidney disease. Some of these include the following:
- Glomerulonephritis: This word encompasses a set of disorders that can cause inflammation, damaging the kidneys’ filtering units.
- Inherited Diseases: PKD, or polycystic kidney disease, is an inherited condition that causes the formation of large cysts in the kidneys and damages the surrounding tissues.
- Urinary Tract and Kidney Abnormalities: Defects that occur as a fetus develops can cause infections and damage the kidneys. An example includes a narrowing that prevents efficient urine outflow, causing it to flow back to the kidneys.
- Autoimmune Conditions: This condition occurs when your immune system has a problem or turns against your body. For example, lupus nephritis is an example of an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation of the blood vessels that remove waste material from the kidneys.
Other Causes
Obstructions or blockages caused by tumors or kidney stones can also lead to kidney damage. Urinary infections or an enlarged prostate gland can also cause kidney damage.
Effects of Aging on the Kidneys and Bladder
Some of the changes that occur in the kidneys include the following:
- Hardening of the blood vessels supplying the kidneys, causing them to filter blood more slowly,
- A decrease in the number of filtering units,
- A decrease in kidney tissue, diminishing kidney function.
Changes that occur in the bladder include:
- Weakening of the bladder muscles
- Changes in the bladder wall
- Partial or total blockage of the urethra
In a healthy individual, kidney function declines slowly. However, kidney disease, medicines, and other illnesses can significantly degrade kidney function.
Early Warning Signs of Kidney Failure in the Elderly
Testing is the only way to determine whether you have kidney disease. However, it is best to see your doctor if you notice the following early signs of kidney failure:
Do not wait for symptoms before taking action. It is best to undergo regular screening if you are at risk of chronic kidney failure. The earlier you detect the condition, the greater the treatment benefits. So, you should consult your doctor if you notice the following signs:
1. Changes in Urination
You may experience urination problems if you have unhealthy kidneys. Some of these issues include seeing blood in your urine or needing to urinate more frequently. You may also notice bubbly or foamy urine, which indicates that protein is getting into your urine due to a kidney problem.
2. Dry and Itchy Skin
Healthy kidneys perform several jobs. They remove extra fluid and toxins from your body, keep your bones strong, help make red blood cells, and help maintain appropriate amounts of minerals in your blood. Itchy and dry skin may indicate the bone and mineral disease that often accompanies CKD.
3. Fatigue
CKD can lead to a buildup of impurities and toxins in the blood due to a severe decline in kidney function. That can cause you to feel weak and tired and make concentrating difficult. Anemia is another CKD complication that can cause fatigue and weakness.
Nursing and Rehabilitation of Seniors with Kidney Disease
Your physical well-being is contingent upon the health of the organs in your body. While seniors’ primary focus areas are often the brain and heart, the kidneys are just as important. They demand the same level of attention and care.
There are treatment and care options for seniors living with kidney disease. These include dialysis or a kidney transplant. However, they do not have to wait for things to worsen. They can reduce the risk by:
- Lifestyle and diet adjustments,
- Improved monitoring, and
- Skilled nursing care
How Long-Term Care Can Help
CKD is a long-term disease that is difficult to diagnose because symptoms usually do not appear until the condition is advanced. The final stage of chronic kidney disease is end-stage renal disease. At this point, the kidneys can no longer function independently. Dialysis or kidney transplant are the only treatment options for ESRD.
The former entails going to a dialysis center, where a machine and cleansing fluid are used to remove waste, toxins, and excess fluid from the blood. Essentially, the cutting-edge machine takes on the function of the kidney.
Dialysis Treatment Options
Dialysis will become an important part of your life once you begin it. Fortunately, you have dialysis treatment options. They all, however, involve the use of a cutting-edge machine and a cleaning agent. In addition, surgery is required to insert an access site for dialysis treatment.
In-Center Hemodialysis
If you choose this option, you will go to a dialysis center three to four times per week. You will be guided through the procedure by technicians and registered nurses. The treatment entails removing blood and passing it through a cutting-edge machine equipped with a filter and cleaning solution to remove excess fluids and toxins.
Home Hemodialysis
Instead of visiting a dialysis center, you can receive the same treatment at home. As a result, travel is less of a concern, and you can dialyze more frequently. The disadvantage is that patients must perform their own treatment, which can be difficult for those who do not have access to skilled nursing care.
Peritoneal Dialysis
This treatment uses your abdomen’s lining as a filter instead of removing your blood and running it through a state-of-the-art machine. A catheter implanted in the gut provides access. Fluid cycles in and out of the abdomen through the catheter. So, cleansing of the blood takes place inside you. This treatment is gentler than in-center dialysis, but experts associate it with weight gain and cardiovascular issues.
The Challenges of Dialysis for Seniors in New York
Dialysis is a life-saving treatment. Unfortunately, many people in New York struggle with accessibility. This is especially true for seniors who receive dialysis treatment. After all, many seniors refrain from driving for logistical, safety, or convenience reasons.
Making other arrangements can also take time and effort. Family members and friends may have to rearrange their schedules to assist with transportation, and cab fares can quickly add up. Dialysis usually necessitates at least three weekly treatments, which necessitates a significant amount of time spent traveling to and from the dialysis center.
Home dialysis can help with some of these issues, but it is not without flaws. Many seniors may require skilled nursing care and processing assistance. They may also require assistance with medication administration and scheduling.
Of course, many people with chronic kidney disease also have other medical problems. Some of these conditions may necessitate extra attention and impair their ability to properly care for themselves.
Benefits of Long-Term Care for Seniors with Kidney Disease in New York
Quality long-term care is one thing that can help manage kidney disease. As a result, many young adults and seniors with chronic kidney disease prefer to have dialysis in hospice care or nursing homes. Nursing homes and hospice care provide care in a variety of areas, but managing CKD is an important part of their long-term care.
Social workers and registered nurses can also be of great assistance to dialysis patients. Patients will be eternally grateful to have someone to support them in all aspects of living with chronic kidney disease.
However, dialysis is not the only issue. There are always nurses, social workers, other health care professionals, and patients to talk to. Many patients experience depression and isolation while undergoing treatment. You will not only be cared for by staff in a skilled nursing or dialysis facility. You may also make new friends who are in the same situation as you.
Elderly Dialysis Rehab Brooklyn, New York City
If you live in Brooklyn, Staten Island, or any other New York borough and are looking for a dialysis facility, visit Four Seasons Healthcare Solutions. When you choose us, you are choosing skilled and dedicated healthcare professionals who take pride in providing excellent care with compassion.
About Us
Our care team includes nurses, residents, therapists, and other professionals with decades of experience. We specialize in the following services:
- Dialysis care
- Skilled nursing and rehabilitation
- Certified home health care
- Adult day health care
- Pharmacy
We are a Brooklyn healthcare provider, offering unparalleled social services and medical care to our family of clients. Our core values include empathy, honesty, caring, family, ethics, spirituality, and success. To learn more about our dialysis facility or to schedule an appointment, contact us at 718-223-2100 today. As a patient, you are part of our family, and you can expect pleasant and dedicated services delivered with the utmost respect.
