Kidney disease strikes many more Americans every year, forcing many to undergo almost daily kidney dialysis to survive.

But innovations in home care offer those with kidney problems a better quality of life.

When your kidneys fail, dialysis machines take over, cleaning the blood of deadly toxins and fluids.

For years, patients had to spend hours in clinics attached to dialysis machines, but, now, hundreds of people across the country are choosing to do the therapy at home and it's making their lives better.

Bonnie Anderson's walk-in closet looks like a hospital's medical supply room.

Every morning, in the master bedroom, her husband of about 40 years, Dennis, plays nurse.

Five days a week, for three hours Dennis attaches Bonnie to the dialysis machine, which cleans her blood of dangerous toxins and fluids.

"We get up about 3:30, 4 o'clock in the morning and get everything set up," Bonnie said.

Three and a half years ago, for some unknown reason Bonnie's kidneys began to fail. Doctors said she needed dialysis.

"It keeps you alive. Once you go off of it you can go into renal failure very quickly," Bonnie said.

Driving from their home in Dallas to Salem, the couple first spent six hours a day three days week undergoing clinical dialysis.

But they soon discovered home dialysis, and their lives drastically improved.

"Oh it's wonderful, and it saves so much time," Dennis said.

Experts said home dialysis can help patients stay healthier, too.

Sharon Shulman, a registered nurse who works for Davita, one of the largest dialysis companies in the nation, said patients who have clinical treatments can only come three days a week while patients who have in-home systems can receive therapy five to six days per week.

"Their energy level's better. They sleep better -- better appetite. Just because they remove toxins more frequently," Shulman said.

The Andersons said there's a noticeable difference in Bonnie.

"We don't have to pull so much fluid every day. She's not as tired. A lot more energy than she's had in four years," Dennis said.

The Andersons said Bonnie's home dialysis cost more than $1 million last year. Fortunately, the family's private insurance and Medicare took care of the bill.

Bonnie said she's grateful for the system and her new lease on life.

"Yeah we're really lucky. I think I'm lucky anyway. I'm grateful for what I have," Bonnie said.

Home dialysis isn't for everybody. Experts said not every patient wants the responsibility of their own treatments, and it's better to have a partner to help you with the therapy.

There's also an extensive training process to complete before you can do it.