For dialysis patients, the medical routine does not end with a visit to the doctor or the treatment itself. The need to attend life-saving treatments three times a week, and sometimes dealing with daily limitations and dependence on long-term care, creates a significant physical and emotional burden, both for the patients and their families and caregivers.
With this understanding in mind, the team at Carmel Medical Center's nephrology department initiated, for the fourth year, a special seminar and respite day for dialysis patients and their families. Dozens of patients and their families participated in a day designed to allow them to step out of their treatment routine for a moment, gather strength, and enrich their toolbox to deal with the challenges that accompany them along the way.
A day outside the hospital walls
The event took place at the "Beit Abba Hushi" center in Haifa, and offered participants a diverse program that connected health, body and mind with a social and family experience.
During the day, patients and their families enjoyed a variety of activities:
- Custom traffic – A physical activity workshop for patients, family members, and staff, which included instruction on the importance of movement alongside a demonstration of exercises tailored to each patient's abilities.
- Emotional and family environment – Intimate discussion circles led by social workers and psychologists, in which participants shared feelings, dilemmas, and challenges that accompany coping with kidney disease and treatments. Participants received tools to strengthen mental resilience and improve communication within the family.
- Respite, senses and a smile – A surprising sensory show, music pieces, refreshments, and an unmediated meeting with staff members outside the department walls.
See the person behind the treatment
The dialysis unit at Carmel Medical Center operates as part of the nephrology department and provides a multidisciplinary response to patients. The team includes specialist physicians, nurses, social workers, psychologists and dietitians, who accompany patients throughout the treatment process.
According to Director of the Dialysis Unit at Carmel Medical Center, Dr. Tatiana TsiochenkoThe therapeutic concept in the unit is based on seeing the person as a whole: "Our therapeutic concept in the nephrology system is that the treatment of dialysis patients does not only consist of medical monitoring or connection to a machine. Quality of life, physical activity, emotional support and family accompaniment are an integral part of the treatment plan. This day proves time and again how powerful the human encounter and the community built around the unit are."
According to her, the goal of the event is to provide patients and their families not only with knowledge and tools, but also with a feeling that they are not coping alone.
"Leaving the hospital together, laughing and talking"
The reactions of the patients and their families at the end of the event were moving.
One of the patients in the unit said: "When we come to the Carmel ward three times a week, the staff truly becomes a second family. But going out together outside the hospital, moving, laughing and talking about the things on our hearts, gives us indescribable strength and power. We thank Dr. Tatiana and the entire staff for their dedication and open hearts.".
The special day sought to remind us that alongside complex medical care, there are also emotional, social, and family needs that require a response. For the patients and their families, a few hours of getting out of the routine became an opportunity to stop, connect, share, and gather strength for the journey ahead.