How old is too old for a Kidney transplant?

The squeaky wheel and persistence does pay off. God bless you, and don’t give up.

I’m not sure of your age, but have you already tested and qualified to receive a living donor kidney transplant? My husband luckily had 4 loved ones come forth to offer a kidney. Knowing there is a huge kidney bank system in place is also a means of receiving a kidney for those in need.

We live in the large Minneapolis/St. Paul metro area, and we notice more people displaying large car magnets that read: I am in desperate need of a kidney. If you have one that you are willing to share, please call me at xxx. Thank you!

Mayo was not yet talking dialysis, even with my husband’s GFR at 15. Mayo has an extensive video library which we were able to request and view at home. Once we learned more about the at-home dialysis, we decided to go that route if/when that time should come. We wanted to be ready for dialysis as one type used a catheter and the other a fistula. We love our hottub and hoped to continue using it. Some “port” procedures require several weeks of healing. We were delighted that his transplant was scheduled before dialysis was ever necessary, and he has used the hottub post surgery, once his sutures were all healed. It was not absolutely clear to us, should an emergency port be needed, whether it might ever be possible to use a hottub.

There were actually three reasons for our decision to try the at-home dialysis…
1. Our Mayo Nephrologist indicated that my husband would be a good candidate for it, should that time ever come. That Dr also shared that it is the method that he would choose, should he ever need dialysis.
2. We were hoping to find someone who did at-home dialysis, and some friends surprisingly introduced us to a wonderful couple they knew. The husband is 83 years old and is very satisfied with the process after 3+ years. He was very unhappy with his in-center visits and said he was about ready to “pull the plug.” He shared that one day a rep came in to talk with someone near him at the center, and that rep saved his life. He had no idea about at-home dialysis prior to over-hearing her speak that day. He said that he was always terribly uncomfortable at the center because they kept the temp so low, and he felt extremely cold. He was told that the center’s low temperature setting was a safer environment to ward off germs.
3. We heard the 83-yr old say how easy the equipment was to use, and how quickly he was able to learn the ropes. I was trying to imagine how we might set up the equipment in our own space, not to mention the storage of the many boxes of necessary solution and supplies. We often search YouTube for instructional videos, so one day I punched in “at-home dialysis, and we found a wonderful young gal who fully explained her own dialysis routine. She also demonstrated the equipment and actual storage and setup in her own space. It was quite incredible to see that her bedside table and bathroom door were almost identical to how our own space is positioned. After she walked us through her process on the video, and opened her guest room closet to explain her storage supply, I could imagine, perfectly, how we could do exactly as she did with a large rolling cart next to her bed to store the machine and necessary supplies. The whole process appeared very doable and clear.

We were thankfully able to learn so much valuable information along our kidney journey. Do not be afraid to ask
questions or seek advice. The Mayo Clinic has hundreds of take-home brochures available, on a myriad of kidney topics. It is remarkable how much one can learn, just choosing a brochure to read while awaiting your next appointment. 😉

I certainly appreciate all the wonderful feedback. not giving up.. still trying to figure it all out and managing my gfr which is currently at 15. You all give me hope. Thank you

@sisuk25 Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! And, thank you so much for sharing your story here.
Ginger

My husband and I just completed OUR 4-month post-op follow-up for his kidney transplant at Rochester-Mayo. I am 75 and donated a kidney to my 76 year old husband. My GFR was 75 and, just prior to surgery on 9/19/25, his GFR was at 15. Several years earlier we shockingly learned he was in Stage 4 Renal failure with his GFR at 28. After his kidney biopsy ruled out cancer, we immediately began to learn as much as we could to protect his diseased kidneys. We adopted a semi-plant-based diet and it became our life’s mission to maintain his kidney health. When his local Nephrologist began talking dialysis, we visited Mayo for a second opinion. After years of Mayo visits, his GFR was declining and Creatinine rising, so we inquired about a kidney transplant. We learned he would be too old to get a donor kidney from any registry, as it normally takes several years once on the donor list. At that point he’d be 80+ and no longer eligible. I had already indicated my desire to donate a kidney, which appeared to fall on deaf ears. Our daughter insisted on testing and learned she had a universal blood type. She is a young mother of three with a husband who has a very demanding job. I became more vocal about testing, with my universal blood type, so the Dr finally recommended me to the kidney transplant team for an eval. After 55 years of marriage, we celebrated the news that we were a suitable match. I was expecting “perfect,” but settled at being suitable. Preventing him from ever having dialysis and adhering to a strict diet played a huge part in his successful transplant. We cannot say that our story is all rosy, as the arsenal of meds (especially the anti-rejection drugs) have posed some issues. We feel so blessed to share our journey and hope others can benefit by the old adage, never say never, and be proactive with your health.

I received my transplant in June of 2025. I was 73 at the time and turned 74 in August. Also type 2 diabetic. Was doing PD for 3 years and on the list for 7 years. It was done at the UNC hospital, where the age cut-off is 80.
In 2016, when we went to transplant orientation, the Nerphologist told me I
was too old, but because I had a spreadsheet of all my blood tests for the previous 10 years he let me proceed. He told me I was going to have a heart attack.
Still standing.

I am 73 and I received a kidney on July 27, 2025 at New York Presbyterian Hospital Milstein Building in Manhattan. I was 72 at the time. I didn’t have diabetes or heart concerns and I lead a healthy lifestyle. I was on the waiting list for 5 years. I was even on a waiting list in Nebraska. The waiting felt like an eternity. October, 2024 I had to go on dialysis and it was such a horrible experience for me; however, I kept the belief that 2025 would be my year — and it was. Nine months later I got THE call of a life time and couldn’t believe it. I was ready. I know this journey can be a confusing experience. What I did was kept myself educated and found resources that helped me to have a can-do attitude physically and mentally. It really help me to be more levelheaded about my future. Lastly my daughter was my support system and advocate. Being completely honest helped her to help me and I am so grateful for her. I hope this message helps someone to have hope and courage and realize there are answers for you if you try everything you and your support can do. Health and happiness to everyone! Thank you for taking the time to read my comment and God Bless❤️

Times are changing with regard to age limits and kidneys. It really depends on the health of the kidney. Talk to your transplant center, and if they won’t play ball, you can try another one!

How long can you live with 2/3rds of a kidney in your hole body and no dialysis yet

I had a kidney transplant at 76 years old. I will turn 80 later this year and everything is pretty ok so far, although I did develop malignant melanoma which was surgically removed but the kidney is pretty good. My eGFR was 7 when I had the transplant. I had been ESRD for 10 years before that but never went on dialysis. I think that each transplant center has their own policy about age limits. You can register at more than one so shop around if you need to.