In-Home Tube Feeding & Enteral Care

Receiving nutritional support at home is a vital option for individuals who have a functioning gastrointestinal tract but cannot safely swallow food or liquids. Our nursing team regularly visits homes to assist patients managing:

• Swallowing disorders (Dysphagia)
• Neurological conditions (such as ALS, stroke, MS, or Parkinson’s disease)
• Head, neck, or esophageal cancers
• Severe gastrointestinal issues or surgeries
• Failure to thrive or severe malnutrition

Administering enteral nutrition safely requires strict adherence to your physician's and dietitian's orders. Our Registered Nurses (RNs) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) follow precise clinical protocols to manage your care. Your in-home visits will typically include:

• Safe Formula Administration: Managing scheduled bolus, gravity drip, or continuous pump feedings to ensure the correct volume of nutrition is delivered at the right pace.
• Stoma Site Care: Thoroughly cleaning and dressing the skin around Gastrostomy tubes (G-tubes), Jejunostomy tubes (J-tubes), or PEG tubes to prevent irritation and infection.
• Tube Flushing and Maintenance: Performing routine water flushes before and after feedings to maintain hydration and prevent the tube from clogging.
• Medication Administration: Safely crushing, dissolving, and administering prescribed medications through the feeding tube without compromising the equipment or the patient's digestion.
• Family Education: We teach you and your family caregivers the best practices for daily hygiene, how to position the patient safely during feeds to prevent aspiration, and how to troubleshoot basic pump alarms.

Managing a feeding tube without professional guidance can lead to severe complications like aspiration pneumonia, dehydration, or clogged equipment. Having a skilled home health nurse oversee the enteral feeding process provides a critical layer of clinical safety. It allows patients to receive life-sustaining nutrition in a familiar, comfortable environment while giving family members the hands-on education they need to feel confident in the daily routine.

Our skilled nursing team is available for scheduled enteral feeding support and clinical monitoring throughout Madison, Whitewater, and the greater Dane County area.