Gentell pitches enteral nutrition as a wound-care tool in long-term care

Gentell says enteral feeding can support wound healing in long-term care by delivering nutrients that help with inflammation, infection resistance and tissue repair. The company outlined seven ways tube feeding can complement dressings as patients age and wounds become harder to treat.

Why it matters: - Long-term care residents commonly develop wounds during their stays, and wound care becomes harder when patients cannot swallow, are on ventilators or have severe appetite loss. - Gentell says nutrition can affect healing from the inside, not just through bandages and dressings on the outside. - The company frames enteral feeding as a way to support healing, reduce the risk of wounds becoming chronic and improve comfort for older patients.

What happened: - Gentell released a statement in Yardley, Pa., on Aug. 27, 2026, arguing that enteral nourishment adds a critical dimension to wound care in long-term care. - David Navazio, Gentell chief executive officer, said wound care should combine external therapies with internal nourishment. - Navazio identified seven ways an enteral program can support wound healing.

The details: - Enteral feeding delivers nutrients directly to the digestive system, which Gentell says helps vitamins and minerals reach the bloodstream and the wound faster. - Enteral nourishment can help reduce inflammation by supplying nutrients such as calcium, vitamins K, A and E, zinc and proteins. - Wound healing depends on amino acids, B vitamins, lipids, zinc and iron, and vitamins A and C support fibroblast growth and white blood cell activity in the wound bed. - Enteral nutrition supports remodeling by helping synthesize collagen, hyaluronic acid and elastin, which repair damaged skin tissue. - Gentell says some enteral treatments include patented Hydroxyproline and Hydroxyproline-Glycine, which are highly resistant to enzymatic degradation and are linked to faster wound healing. - Enteral nourishment can improve immunity and help reduce infection risk in wounds. - Fats and other nutrients can also increase the body’s resilience by giving patients more energy to fight wound stress and heal faster. - Gentell said aging can make patients more likely to become malnourished because they have trouble ingesting key nutrients that support wound healing. - Navazio suggested enteral or tube feeding as one of the safer and more effective ways to provide nourishment to compromised patients. - The American Journal of Surgery is cited in the release for the infection and resilience claims, and the release links to the journal article.

Between the lines: - The pitch is as much about workflow as medicine: Gentell is positioning wound care as a team effort among physicians, nurses and dietitians. - The release blends clinical claims with company advocacy, so the core message is that long-term care facilities should treat nutrition as part of wound management, not a separate issue. - Gentell is also reinforcing its broader identity as a wound-care manufacturer with products and logistics systems built for care settings.

What's next: - Gentell says the most effective wound care pairs external treatment with internal therapy, suggesting more emphasis on nutrition planning in long-term care and home care. - The company expects physicians, nurses and dietitians to play a larger role in improving wound outcomes and patient comfort. - Gentell says its products and systems are aimed at nursing homes, home care, hospices and other health care settings.

The bottom line: - Gentell is arguing that enteral nutrition should be treated as a core part of wound care, especially for older patients whose wounds are harder to heal.