Caregivers for people with kidney complications face a laborious schedule day in and day out. Challenges for caregivers range from booking doctor appointments to staying in the hospital during dialysis, ensuring that the affected are taking proper medication and diet. However, support groups and psychologists say that caregivers need time for self-care and psychological assistance as well.
Overcoming kidney disorder: A survivor’s tale
Sunny Uthup (49), a Kolkata-based entrepreneur, was diagnosed with immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy in early 2015. It is a kidney disorder where antibodies called IgA build up in the kidney tissue. Both of his kidneys stopped working due to the condition, as it affects the immune system.
Taking care of Sunny was a challenging task, said his sister Anjali Uthup (51), a radio-jockey and founder of Sunny Kidney Foundation, Kerala. “According to doctors, the only treatment for his condition was dialysis, and a kidney transplant would be required in the future. The family was in shock. Our objective was to help Sunny come out of this condition and stay hopeful,” Anjali told Happiest Health, speaking about the role of caregivers.
As a primary caregiver, Anjali took care of Sunny’s appointments at the hospital, stayed at the dialysis centre, gave him medicines on a timely basis and took care of his diet. “He underwent a kidney transplant in July 2015. While he started developing weakness after a year, he is doing better now,” said Anjali.
Responsibilities of caregivers
“Responsibilities of caregivers vary with different cases, and it is not the same for everyone. There are many challenges faced by caregivers. The role of a caregiver is not easy, and one needs to be compassionate,” said Dr Gaurav Thukral, consultant physician and COO, Health Care at Home (HCAH), Delhi.
Dr Thukral lists the responsibilities of a caregiver, which include:
- Taking care of doctor’s appointments
- Monitoring hypertension, sugar levels and other vitals
- Handling peritoneal dialysis (a form of dialysis that can be done at home)
- Staying in the hospital during dialysis
- Ensuring that the affected are eating well and taking their medications
Challenges for caregivers
Dr Seerapani Gopaluni, consultant nephrologist and transplant physician at Citizens Speciality Hospital, Hyderabad, lists some challenges for caregivers:
- Caregivers may face difficulties in balancing their personal and professional lives, which can induce stress and anxiety.
- Individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD) may feel weak and anxious at times. Their blood pressure may drop after dialysis, and handling their dizziness, headache and cramps can be a challenging task.
- Individuals who are on peritoneal dialysis need more help as it is done at home.
While taking care of Sunny, Anjali’s focus was to support him and see improvement in his health. “I must advise all caregivers to manage time to go out and take breaks, as a caregiver needs to be positive and stress-free to support someone with a kidney condition,” she told Happiest Health, detailing the challenges of caregivers.
How should caregivers handle challenges?
Rashi Laskari, counselling psychologist and founder of Inner Light Counselling Centre, Mumbai, recommends some ways for caregivers to tackle the various challenges that come their way:
- Prioritising self-care like listening to music, taking a walk and doing some physical exercises.
- Seeking support and reaching out to a counsellor if they need to share their concerns.
- Taking breaks in between tasks and practicing breathing exercises, which help in reducing stress.
Takeaways
- People with severe kidney disorders may need caregivers.
- Responsibilities of caregivers include booking doctor appointments, staying in the hospital during dialysis, ensuring that the affected are eating well and taking their medications.
- Caregivers can face difficulties in balancing their personal and professional lives, which can induce stress and anxiety.
- Prioritising self-care, taking breaks between tasks and reaching out to a counsellor are some ways for caregivers to handle professional challenges.
