Starting dialysis is challenging for both patients and their informal caregivers. Caregivers help patients adapt and adhere to treatment by providing practical and emotional support, but these responsibilities can take a considerable toll on them. As little is known about how caregiver experiences evolve after dialysis initiation, we aimed to: 1) assess the trajectory of experiences and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of caregivers of patients on dialysis during the first year of dialysis, 2) assess whether differences in these trajectories exist between caregivers of home dialysis patients and those of in-center hemodialysis (ICHD) patients, and 3) explore in which domains caregivers desire support over time.