I have been working for my company Silverado Hospice for almost 8 years now, and as our patients age, the systems in their body tend to slow down or stop altogether. As a healthcare provider I have seen my fair share of patients succumb to many of these failures in their systems, particularly in the renal system. When I talk to many of my colleagues, many who are doctors and hospice nurses, most of them will tell me that if they were to die of something, most of them would choose to die of kidney disease because the symptoms are easy to recognize . managing and even suppressing pain is rarely a problem, as the goal of most hospice providers is to provide comfort during our client's final days of life. When an elderly patient suffers from kidney failure, many systems of his body are affected, the kidneys have the important job of filtering waste from the blood and controlling the water present in the bloodstream. The first thing some patients notice is a change in their energy levels, due to the buildup of waste in the body that is not adequately filtered. As waste accumulates in the elderly patient, he or she may experience increasingly intense sleep to the point of losing consciousness. the first sign most healthcare professionals see are mental changes affecting clients. Symptoms can range from simple disorientation to total anxiety that can make it difficult for staff and family to care for loved ones. These mental changes can be managed with loving reassurance and in some cases with medications prescribed by your doctor. Other systems that are affected in the body are the skin and muscles. as urea builds up in the skin it causes itching and even odor. This condition is called Uremi... middle of paper... without water. Hemodialysis is performed at a dialysis center and must be performed several times a week. Another is peritoneal dialysis, in which dialysis fluid is injected into the abdomen. The fluid contains substances that draw waste products and excess water from nearby tissues. The fluid is left in the abdomen for a few hours, then drained. It is usually done daily, but can be done at home. In more severe cases of kidney disease, a kidney transplant is necessary. There is no cure for kidney disease. The goal of hospice treatment is to slow the progression of the disease, treat any known causes of the disease, treat any complications of the disease, and restore as much lost kidney function as possible. Remember, the earlier it is diagnosed, the better, so if your loved one has any symptoms, see your doctor as soon as possible.