When a family member is diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, the impact goes beyond health, extending to financial, psychological, and social aspects of the entire family. Often, the patient loses their ability to work, placing a huge financial burden on their relatives.
Through the Family Support program, the National Kidney Foundation provides monthly financial aid to cover basic needs, in addition to offering psychological counseling sessions for family members to help them cope with the daily challenges of patient care.
Why is family support important?
Studies in mental health (such as those by the American Psychiatric Association APA) indicate that emotional and material support from the family plays a crucial role in improving the patient's response to treatment and reducing rates of depression and anxiety.
- Providing a safe and stable environment for the patient.
- Increasing the patient's compliance with treatment schedules.
- Reducing stress which may worsen the health condition.
"The family is the pillar of the patient's recovery, and supporting them is an investment in the health of the entire community."
- American Psychiatric Association (APA) - Family Support & Chronic Illness.
- Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, Vol 22, Issue 3.
- National Kidney Foundation (NKF) - Patient and Family Guide, 2025.