Discovering that you have kidney failure and need dialysis can be devastating. A dialysis social worker will support you emotionally as well as help to manage your care.* 

Where can I find a dialysis social worker?

The federal government requires dialysis centers to have a social worker on staff with a master’s degree. In some states, they are also required to have a social work license. If you are doing in-center dialysis, you will see your social worker regularly at your appointments and may develop a close relationship with them.

What do dialysis social workers do?

Dialysis workers are available to help you in three major ways: emotional support, patient advocacy, and helping you figure out care and costs. 

Emotional support

Your social worker will be a general resource for you and your family as you learn to live with kidney failure and understand your rights as a patient. They will help you adjust to the emotional toll of having kidney failure, including anxiety, depression, sadness, and fear. Social workers help children and parents of children with kidney disease navigate the illness and help the child continue to live out their childhood. A social worker may also help explain your illness and treatment in easy-to-understand terms.

Patient advocacy

Your social worker is a member of your dialysis care team, so they work with your other medical professionals regarding your care. They act as an advocate on your behalf to other members of the team to ensure your needs are being fully met. Your social worker also has access to information about your treatment, medicines, and dietary requirements, and they can assist you in following recommendations.

One such example of their advocacy is that your dialysis social worker will measure how well you are both physically and mentally coping with kidney failure. Each year, they will conduct at least one Kidney Disease Quality of Life (KDQOL) assessment for you and share the results with the rest of your care team. This information is used by the care team to make sure they are treating you appropriately, and it allows them to make modifications to improve care.

Before meeting with your dialysis social worker, think about what you would like to discuss with them before your dialysis appointment. This insures you can get any concerns voiced and proactively addressed by your wider care team.

Help figure out care and costs

Dialysis social workers also help patients with booking appointments and getting financial assistance. This included grants from American Kidney Fund to pay for health insurance or other costs of treating kidney failure that aren’t covered by insurance.

They will also explain your rights as an employee if you need to go on medical leave or disability. They may even help you secure employment if you are physically able to work but currently unemployed.

Moreover, social workers are a great resource for finding affordable housing or getting food assistance if you are unable to work. They can also let you know about community resources available to you, such as arranging transportation to and from your dialysis appointments and finding a support group to help you cope effectively.

*Blattman, E. (2020, May 20). Meet your treatment team: Dialysis social worker. American Kidney Fund. https://www.kidneyfund.org/kidney-today/meet-your-treatment-team-dialysis-social-worker.html