The program aims to bring together a
supportive network for people dealing with chronic health
challenges for themselves and their loved ones
DENVER, Oct. 28,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The DaVita Giving
Foundation today announced an investment in the National
Kidney Foundation (NKF)'s PEERS program, a program that
provides social and emotional support for patients, care partners,
and living donors through connections with mentors living through
similar experiences.
Prioritizing mental health in chronic disease care is essential,
and mentorship can help provide people with support and comfort in
a time when they might otherwise feel alone.
Studies1 show that social connection can help
reduce the risk of chronic disease and other serious illness, and
lead to better mental and physical health.
"Receiving a chronic disease diagnosis can be a distressing and
emotional experience for patients as well as their loved ones.
Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) often manage multiple
health conditions at once, and our dedicated care teams come
together to support patients throughout their kidney care journey.
While the support of care teams and partners is invaluable, nothing
quite matches the comfort and understanding that comes from
connecting with peers," remarked Dr. Jeff
Giullian, chief medical officer for DaVita, a leading
provider of kidney care services. "We celebrate the NKF PEERS
program for its commitment to connecting patients with a broader
health community, and we are truly grateful to be part of this
vital effort."
Today, more than 356 individuals participate as mentors and
mentees in the program, with 81% of participants managing a chronic
illness like kidney failure.
"Going through a kidney disease diagnosis, being on dialysis,
and getting evaluated for a transplant can be such a lonely
process. NKF PEERS helps people in these moments make connections
with someone else who's 'been there before,'" said Marissa
Argentina, patient programs director for the NKF. "Connecting with
trained peer mentors who have those lived experiences, can share
their stories and are able to be a source of support for someone
new to living with kidney disease, dialysis or transplant can make
a huge difference."
Patients living with chronic disease are significantly more
likely to experience depression and other mental health
conditions2, and studies3 show that social
connection improves the psychological well-being of those living
with mental health conditions.
"When I first started dialysis, I felt depressed, so I asked my
social worker at DaVita if there was a program where I could talk
to someone experiencing the same things I was," said Felicia Tarnecki, DaVita patient and mentee
participant in NKF PEERS. "My mentor answered my questions, and we
talked on the phone often. It helped me feel less alone and more in
control of my health."
The program connects participants telephonically and provides
them with an opportunity to discuss their kidney care journey and
ask questions in a comfortable environment with someone who has
lived through similar experiences.
"I want to give others the encouragement through their journey
that I wish I'd had, because I felt like nobody understood what I
was going through," said Janine
Prazza, mentor for the NKF PEERS program and a dual heart
and kidney transplant recipient.
To learn more about DaVita's giving and community partnerships,
visit DaVita.com/About. To learn more about support groups and
other resources for those affected by kidney disease, visit
DaVita.com/Support or Kidney.org/PEERS.
About DaVita Inc.
DaVita (NYSE: DVA) is a health care
provider focused on transforming care delivery to improve quality
of life for patients globally. As a comprehensive kidney care
provider, DaVita has been a leader in clinical quality and
innovation for more than 20 years. DaVita cares for patients at
every stage and setting along their kidney health journey—from
slowing the progression of kidney disease to helping to support
transplantation, from acute hospital care to dialysis at home. As
of June 30, 2024, DaVita served
approximately 265,100 patients at 3,124 outpatient dialysis
centers, of which 2,672 centers were located in the United States and 452 centers were located
in 13 other countries worldwide. DaVita has reduced
hospitalizations, improved mortality, and worked collaboratively to
propel the kidney care industry to adopt an equitable and
high-quality standard of care for all patients, everywhere. To
learn more, visit DaVita.com/About.
Media Contact:
DaVita
Newsroom
newsroom@davita.com
1Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2024,
March 27). Social Connection. U.S.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved October 2, 2024, from
https://www.cdc.gov/social-connectedness/about/index.html
2Based on 2021 data. John's Hopkins (2021, December 16). The Intersection of Mental Health
and Chronic Disease. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public
Health.
https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2021/the-intersection-of-mental-health-and-chronic-disease
3Based on 2017 data. Harandi TF, Taghinasab MM, Nayeri
TD. The correlation of social support with mental health: A
meta-analysis. Electron Physician. 2017 Sep 25;9(9):5212-5222. doi:
10.19082/5212. PMID: 29038699; PMCID: PMC5633215.
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