Gifts for the Dialysis Patient in Your Life

Gift giving can be one of the most delightful and one of the most difficult experiences, especially when the person you’re shopping for has medical concerns. How can you give a thoughtful gift to someone who is dealing with kidney disease and dialysis treatments? Donating your car through Kidney Cars is always a great option. A note saying you’ve given a donation in their name never goes amiss, but how about when a birthday rolls around or an anniversary? It’s nice to have a few ideas up your sleeve to show you care in a meaningful way.

Gifts for In-Center Dialysis Patients

Dialysis in a dialysis center setting can be a long, boring and sometimes chilly affair. With many treatments occurring 3 times a week, for 3-4 hour stretches, in a room that is kept cooler than is comfortable for many people. Here are a few ideas to make dialysis comfortable.

1. Personalized Blanket or Pillow

If you’re a crafty sort of person you can make a blanket or quilt that reflects their personality, talents, or skills. For a football fan, you can find a polar fleece blanket in their team colors. For a master gardener you can piece together a simple 9-patch quilt in blossom-bright colors. A blanket is a wonderful gift for those going through dialysis, who often find themselves feeling chilled by the long process. A pillow, small enough to tuck into a bag, will help them to feel more comfortable.

2. A Digital Book Reader

Books have always been a classy gift, and they are no different for a dialysis patient. But with sometimes as much as 12 hours spent in the dialysis center every week, one book won’t last very long. Why not get them something that will last longer than good story? A digital book reader, like the Kindle, Nook, and others can be loaded with several of your favorite book titles or can include a coupon for more book purchases in the future. Some e-readers also have the capacity to play movies, which is another thoughtful gift. With a good story to keep them entertained, those hours in the center might not feel so frustrating.

3. The World’s Best Music

If your friend or loved one is a music lover, consider giving them an MP3 player loaded with some of their favorite music. With the strains of the world’s most beautiful symphonies and songs playing in their ears, those 3 hours will fly by at record speed.

Gifts for Home Dialysis Patients

For patients who opt for an at-home dialysis program, there are a few gifts that can make their experience much easier.

1. Dialysis Friendly Furniture

Many at-home dialysis patients, run their treatments overnight, with the machine occupying space on a nightstand. A new nightstand, one that is the same height as the mattress and large enough for equipment and other items, is a thoughtful gift. If the patient doesn’t do a night treatment then a comfortable chair to sit in while the treatment works is also a good gift.

2. A Personalized Duffle Bag

This is the perfect gift for someone who like to stay on the go, in spite of dialysis treatments. Look for a bag that is big enough to hold their equipment and supplies but small enough to work as a carry-on bag for airplane travel. Maybe throw a good book into the duffle bag as an extra surprise for your traveling friend.

These are just a few ideas to help your friend on dialysis. What kinds of gifts have you given or received that have made dialysis easier? Share your ideas!