Aging, end-of-life planning, and depression are topics many people avoid, but for patients living with kidney disease, these realities are part of everyday life. In this episode of Frontiers in Kidney Medicine and Biointelligence, host Len Usvyat speaks with Felicia Speed, PhD, LMSW, Vice President of Social Work Services at Fresenius Medical Care, about the emotional and psychological challenges patients face as their health declines.
With more than 26 years of experience in nephrology social work, Felicia discusses:听
鈥 How grief differs from depression, and why the distinction matters听
鈥 What aging patients fear most 鈥 and what gives them meaning听
鈥 The emotional weight carried by caregivers听
鈥 How social workers help patients reimagine their future听
鈥 Why listening is often more powerful than any intervention听
鈥 The importance of capturing stories, legacy, and identity at end of life听
鈥 The need for research that centers patient narratives听
She also shares moving patient stories that shed light on resilience, legacy, and the human connections formed in dialysis facilities.
If you work in kidney care, or care for someone navigating chronic illnesses, this conversation offers a compassionate and deeply insightful perspective.