In recent years the renal substitution treatment has dynamically developed. The number of dialyzed patients is evaluated at seven thousand. The family, economic and professional situation of the patient changes, often dramatically, when the dialytic therapy begins. The need to find one’s way in the new situation creates social and psychological problems. The progress of medical sciences allowed to optimize and individualize dialytic treatment, increasing the survival rate.

However, the patients’ quality of life remains an important issue. The paper addresses selected problems of dialytic treatment faced by the patients undergoing renal substitution therapy, and their families.

According to the author, the patients included in the chronic dialytic therapy programme and their families should be provided with a permanent care of a clinical psychologist, dietetist, and psychiatrist. An interdisciplinary team of specialists would certainly help patients to find their way in a new life situation such as dialytic therapy