Coram is a proud ambassador of Malnutrition Awareness Week 2024. In our effort to spread awareness of malnutrition and treatments we are committed to educating our patients, colleagues, and other health care professionals on the consequences of malnutrition and the importance of early intervention. Coram also offers homecare solutions including oral nutrition formulas, tube feeding, and total parenteral nutrition (TPN) for those who would benefit from these interventions while avoiding malnutrition related complications and re-hospitalization.
And malnutrition can happen due to a variety of ailments. When Anar’s, a registered dietitian at Coram, husband was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease and Colitis, Chad experienced severe weight loss within only a few weeks. After hospital stays and treatment, Anar knew that nutrition support was a key factor needed in her husband’s recovery. After losing over 30 pounds, doctors prescribed parenteral nutrition . Within days, Chad could feel the effects and was soon able to transition to home care.
While Chad and Anar are still on his road to a full recovery, he’s gaining back strength every day. Chad’s advice through his road from diagnosis to treatment: “Talk with others who have been on it. Find a support outlet to help you keep a positive outlook.”
Now that Anar has experienced PN from a caregiver's perspective, she sees a clear need to expand clinical nutrition education for physicians to broaden their focus beyond treating a specific disease symptom. "Malnutrition happens so quickly and can have such a cascading impact. Physicians need to keep nutrition as part of their care plan," she suggested.
Malnutrition Awareness Week is an annual, multi-organization campaign started by the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN) to educate patients, consumers, and caregivers about the importance of discussing their nutritional status with their health care team, educate health care professionals on the importance of early detection of malnutrition, and increase awareness of nutrition’s role in recovery from illness.
To learn more about Malnutrition Awareness week, visit the ASPEN website.
And to learn more about Chad and Anar’s journey, you can view their story here.
Disclaimers:
Coram does not operate the websites/organizations listed here, nor is it responsible for the availability or reliability of their content. These listings do not imply or constitute an endorsement, sponsorship or recommendation by Coram.