Free One-on-One Dialysis Options Education
This free one-on-one session helps you understand home dialysis, in-center dialysis, and transplant pathways so you can make a treatment decision with more clarity and confidence.
What Is Dialysis Options Education?
You may have been told dialysis is coming soon. You may already be facing hard decisions. You may have heard different terms and still feel unsure what any of them would actually mean for your daily life.
Dialysis options education is a free one-on-one session designed to help you understand the major treatment paths before you choose one. At Home Dialysis Therapies of San Diego, you meet face to face with an experienced home dialysis nurse for a conversation that is centered on your health needs, your routine, your support system, and your goals.
During the session, you can ask direct questions about home dialysis, in-center dialysis, transplant pathways, equipment, time commitment, and what each option may ask of you day to day. Most sessions are one-on-one, last about 1 to 1.5 hours, and family members or caregivers are welcome. If you need more than one conversation before making a decision, that is okay too.
What Happens During Your Session?
- You compare the major treatment paths
- You see real dialysis equipment and supplies
- You discuss schedule, support, and daily life
- You can bring family, caregivers, or trusted support
- You get a much deeper understanding of your dialysis options and choices
Who Should Schedule a Session?
- People told dialysis may be needed soon
- Patients already on dialysis exploring home options
- Family members or caregivers who want clarity for loved ones
- Patients facing an urgent dialysis start
- Anyone who wants a second conversation before deciding on a treatment path
What Dialysis Options Will You Compare?
During your session, you will compare the main treatment paths in a way that is practical and easy to understand with the help of one our registered nurses to answer any questions you may have. Our goal in offering these sessions is to help you see how each dialysis option works, how it fits into your daily life, and answer any questions you have about how each dialysis option can impact your health and routine.
Your session also compares in-center dialysis and transplant pathways. Home Dialysis Therapies of San Diego specializes in home dialysis, but the purpose of options education is a clear decision, not a narrowed menu.
Automated Peritoneal Dialysis
Automated peritoneal dialysis uses a cycler machine, often overnight, to perform fluid exchanges while you sleep. It can leave more of the day open and is a common home dialysis option for people who want treatment built around routine.
Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis
Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis is done by hand during the day without a cycler. It gives patients a home-based option that does not require overnight machine use and can work well when daytime exchanges fit the person’s schedule.
Home Hemodialysis
Home hemodialysis is done at home with a dialysis machine and usually a care partner. It can offer more treatment flexibility and can fit around work, family, and everyday routines when home therapy is a good clinical fit.
Nocturnal Hemodialysis
Nocturnal hemodialysis is a form of home hemodialysis done overnight. The longer treatment time can fit daytime schedules more easily and may feel gentler for some patients, though training, eligibility, and caregiver needs still depend on your care plan.
Why Do Patients Choose HDT?
Home Dialysis Therapies of San Diego was founded in 2004 to give patients a stronger home-dialysis option in San Diego County. Today, the program combines one-on-one education, a dedicated nurse model, integrated care, and ongoing support that stays focused on the person, not just the treatment plan.
- Founded in 2004 as San Diego’s first home-only dialysis program
- No-wait one-on-one options education sessions
- Dedicated care team model with lower staff-to-patient ratios than other clinics
- Integrated visits with nurse, dietitian, social worker, and nephrologist
- Strong transplant advocacy and follow-through
- 24/7 on-call emergency clinical support available
How Do Your Life and Health Goals Shape the Right Choice?
The right dialysis path is not only a medical decision. It is also a daily-life decision. Work, family support, travel, diet, exercise, insurance, and transplant goals can all affect which option fits best, and at HDT we want to help you find the treatment option that works best for your daily life and routines. Click any of the links below to learn more about how home dialysis can make a difference for you.
What Is Urgent Start Options Education?
Sometimes dialysis decisions happen over time. Sometimes they happen fast. When dialysis needs to start urgently, the pressure can make every option feel harder to understand.
HDT provides urgent-start options education so patients and families can understand what is happening, what the immediate choices are, and how home dialysis may still fit into the longer-term plan when clinically appropriate. This education can begin in the hospital or clinic setting and we are the only dialysis clinic in San Diego that will send a nurse to your bedside to help you decide in that critical moment what form of dialysis is right for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I switch to home dialysis if I already started in-center dialysis?
Yes. Many patients begin dialysis in-center and move to home dialysis later. The decision can be revisited once you have more information, the right access, and the training needed for the treatment you choose. Many patients start in a dialysis center and later transition to home dialysis. Patients can often change treatment and discuss a different option with their care team when they want to explore another treatment path.
Do I need surgery before I can start home dialysis?
Usually, yes. Home hemodialysis requires vascular access, and patients often need minor surgery to create that access before hemodialysis begins. Peritoneal dialysis requires a catheter placed in the abdomen, and that catheter is typically placed a few weeks before treatment starts.
How long does training take after I choose a home dialysis option?
Training time depends on the treatment. Peritoneal dialysis training is often measured in days to a couple of weeks. Home hemodialysis training usually takes longer and may take several weeks. The pace depends on the equipment, the treatment plan, how comfortable you feel with the steps, and whether a care partner is involved.
Can I do home dialysis if I live alone, or will I need a care partner?
That depends on the treatment and your situation. Many people on peritoneal dialysis manage treatments on their own after training. Home hemodialysis more often involves a care partner, especially during training and early treatment. A one-on-one session with one our registered nurses gives you the chance to talk through what support you have now, what support you may need, and which option fits your life more comfortably
Is home dialysis safe, and what happens if something goes wrong during treatment?
Home dialysis is a standard treatment option, and safety depends on training, clean technique, reliable equipment, and knowing when to call for help. Like any dialysis treatment, it comes with risks. Infections can happen, and access problems can happen. Our options education sessions explain these issues clearly so you understand what day-to-day treatment involves, what warning signs matter, and what support is available if a problem comes up.
Will Medicare or insurance cover home dialysis training and supplies?
In many cases, yes. Medicare coverage can include home dialysis training, equipment, supplies, and some support services when the treatment is provided through a qualified dialysis program. Private insurance coverage varies by plan, so the exact out-of-pocket cost can differ from person to person.
Medically reviewed by Andrew King, M.D. | Last updated March 2026