Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a long-term condition. Older people living with CKD commonly have one or more additional diseases or disorders, which means that their health care is particularly complex. They are also likely to have increasing needs for social care over time.
This review describes the current state of research on social care for older people with CKD.
Key findings:
 There was a dearth of published research which provided any evidence on social care. Of the 7769 abstracts and titles identified only 36 papers from 32 studies provided any evidence on social care, and much of this evidence was not the main focus of the study.
 Research on older people with CKD is still predominantly led by medical or health-related professionals: Only one study had a primary social care focus and was carried out by social care professionals.
 We found no examples of older people’s views or experiences of accessing and receiving social care interventions or services.
 We identified nine overall social care research topics for older people with CKD, which need further research.
 The social care needs identified in the evidence were extensive due to the multiple co-morbidities of living with CKD over a prolonged time.
 Renal clinicians name the lack of social care services as an influential factor regarding health outcomes, including quality of life.
Professor