Mercy celebrates ‘second home’s’ fifth birthday

Media Release: March 27, 2009

Mercy celebrates ‘second home’s’ fifth birthday

Auckland resident Mercy Tangimai is just one of 38 clients who have benefitted from the home comforts of the Kidney Society-owned Dialysis House in Papatoetoe, and he’ll be back this week to help the society celebrate the House’s fifth birthday.

Mr. Tangimai lives with kidney failure and has dialysis treatment for four and a half hours a day, three times a week in the comfort of his home.

However, when he was first diagnosed it wasn’t convenient for him to have treatment where he lived so for five months in 2006 he was able to use the Dialysis House provided in the community by Kidney Society Auckland - a home away from home for people to do their own dialysis outside of a hospital setting.

He was then able to take his machine home, making it possible for him to lead an even more independent lifestyle. He now looks after two younger family members and helps out with their school work and activities as much as he can.

Living with kidney failure can mean travelling to a hospital for dialysis many times a week. For patients this can be daunting and may mean they lose some of their independence.

“Having dialysis in the Dialysis House made me feel comfortable and independent,” says Mr Tangimai. “I had my own key so I could go in my own time and was able to cook my own meals in the kitchen, watch TV and have family members visit.”

Dialysis machines are provided free of charge by the Counties Manukau DHB for clients to use at the house. At any one time up to 11 patients can use the House to do their dialysis on alternate days, with two patients sharing a machine between them and negotiating the days and times they come for their treatment. This gives maximum flexibility and independence, something that is not possible for people dialysing in a hospital setting where there are fixed dialysis schedules.

“People who dialyse in a home environment enjoy greater choice of treatment days and times than hospital dialysis patients. It helps to build their confidence and gives them full responsibility for their treatment that can’t be achieved in a hospital setting,” says Nora Van der Schrieck, the Executive Director of Kidney Society Auckland.

The Kidney Society Auckland community dialysis house celebrates its fifth birthday on Friday March 27.

Kidney Society Auckland is the only organisation of its kind in New Zealand delivering free professional support services to kidney patients and their families outside of the health service.

The society relies on the generosity of Trusts and Foundations, businesses and individuals to fund their work and is facing a growing demand that is expected to rise by 4-8% per year.

To donate to the Kidney Society Auckland Annual Appeal visit www.kidneysociety.co.nz or contact the Society on 09 278 1321 or to make a $20 donation phone 0900-KIDNEY
(0900 543639)

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