This is your decision and it can change.
Choosing conservative care does not mean giving up. It means making a thoughtful, informed decision about what kind of life you want to live. Whichever path you choose, you can change your mind at any time.
Overview
What is conservative care?
Conservative care, also known as supportive kidney care or conservative kidney management (CKM), focuses on managing symptoms, maintaining comfort, and improving quality of life. This approach includes personalized medical care, symptom management, nutritional guidance, and emotional support tailored to each patient’s needs and goals. Many patients choose conservative care that prioritizes comfort, dignity, and overall well-being throughout their kidney care journey.
The Goals of Conservative Care
Conservative care is shaped around what matters most to you. While the specifics vary by individual, the following goals guide this approach to care.
Preserve kidney function for as long as possible, through careful medical management.
Manage symptoms: Nausea, itching, poor appetite, fatigue, pain, and fluid build-up.
Maintain independence and daily function for as long as possible.
Avoid treatments or hospital stays that may cause more burden than benefit.
Support emotional, psychological, and spiritual well-being.
Support family members and caregivers alongside the patient.
Honor personal values, cultural beliefs, and individual goals for life.
Help with advance care planning including legal and end-of-life wishes.
An Important Distinction
Conservative Care is Not Hospice
This is one of the most important things to understand. Many people hear "conservative care" and assume it means the same as hospice but they are meaningfully different.
Many people who choose conservative care live over a year
According to the National Kidney Foundation, people in conservative care live over 14 years and some significantly longer. Conservative care is about living as well as possible for as long as possible, not about ending care.
It is a deeply individual decision, often made after thoughtful conversation with a doctor, family members, and a care team. Cooper's social worker and care team are experienced in supporting patients and families through this process with compassion, not judgment.
Some of the most common reasons patients choose this path include:
What to
Expect
What Conservative Care Involves
Cooper coordinates closely with the primary physician and nephrologist.
What conservative care looks like for patients treated with Cooper's kidney dialysis services:
Regular monitoring of kidney function, blood pressure, and symptoms.
Medication management for symptom control: Nausea, pain, itching, fluid.
Dietitian and nutrition guidance for comfort, without the strictest dialysis diet restrictions.
Social worker support: Emotional, practical, and advance care planning.
Collaboration with palliative care specialists when helpful.
Addressing the emotional and practical aspects of living with advanced kidney disease.
Conversations and documentation about future care preferences including advance directives, healthcare proxy designation, and end-of-life wishes.
