Needs From: Volunteer Michigan

Walk for about 30 minutes with a Kidney Companion. 

All walks will be in the Traverse City area and at least one existing vetted Kidney Companion will be there. The walks are intended to build a habit for patients pre and post transplant surgery as well as be a time to socialize.

Sometimes a walk will be for a larger crowd for broad community. Often times, we will schedule a walk with a patient close to their home with a smaller group. 

Please let us know your interest and we will follow up directly with location and timing of a small group walk!

Thank you!

KIDNEY COMPANIONS MUST:

Be 18 years or older

Have a valid driver’s license and access to reliable transportation

Have a flexible schedule to provide transportation, if needed

Attend volunteer orientation. The orientation is divided into 3 sessions each lasting 1-2 hours.

Have COVID vaccine and Annual Influenza vaccine

WHAT DOES THE ROLE INCLUDE?  As with any friend or family member going through a major health crisis, a transplant support person [kidney companion] provides emotional and physical support and advocacy for the patient.

Prior to transplant, they help drive patients to medical appointments at the transplant center; this may be up to 3-4 times per year.

They help at the time of hospitalization for transplant, including receiving medical education and providing emotional support.

At home, particularly as patients have a lifting restriction for several weeks post-surgery, they assist with housekeeping if needed, grocery shopping, day-to-day errands, and general emotional support. This level of in-home support is expected for 6-8 weeks post-transplant.

After transplant, they help drive the patients to medical appointments. In the immediate post-transplant period, they may be asked to drive the patient to medical appointments as often as 2-3 times per week for the first month and then 1 time per week for the second month.

At the medical appointments, especially after the transplant, the kidney companion will also play a key role in supporting the patient. At these appointments, patients can be overwhelmed by the amount of information given and medications prescribed, and the kidney companion will be critical in assisting the patient with all of these changes and medication management.

WHAT THE ROLE DOES NOT INCLUDE:  

Kidney companions do not provide medical care, nursing care, wound care nor are expected to provide any financial support. Our patients already have a dedicated team of nurses, doctors, and social workers, both with the transplant center and dialysis center, who are primarily responsible for the patient’s medical care, insurance coverage and applications, appointment times, etc.