News
August 8, 2025
Supporting Our Clients During Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month
At Adoration Home Health & Private Duty Nursing, August is a time to raise awareness and show support for individuals and families affected by Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)—a rare but serious genetic condition that impacts the central nervous system, voluntary muscle movement, and strength. We proudly serve both pediatric and adult clients across Tennessee, offering skilled nursing care in the home to help individuals with SMA live with dignity, comfort, and the support they deserve.
What is Spinal Muscular Atrophy?
SMA is a genetic neuromuscular disorder caused by mutations in the SMN1 gene, which leads to a deficiency of the survival motor neuron (SMN) protein. Without enough of this protein, motor neurons deteriorate, causing progressive muscle weakness and atrophy. SMA affects individuals differently based on its type—ranging from severe infantile-onset (Type 1) to milder adult-onset forms (Type 4) (Prior, 2020).
Early diagnosis and interdisciplinary care, including respiratory support, mobility assistance, nutrition management, and consistent nursing oversight, are critical to improving quality of life.
How Adoration Supports Individuals with SMA
Our team of Registered Nurses (RNs) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) is trained to care for clients with complex neuromuscular needs like SMA. Whether assisting with tracheostomy care, G-tube management, medication administration, or seizure precautions, our goal is to support both the individual and their family with compassion and clinical excellence.
For pediatric clients, our care plans are developmentally focused and family-centered, ensuring that children with SMA can thrive in the comfort of their own homes. For adult clients, we provide specialized care that evolves with the individual’s needs—offering autonomy while helping to prevent unnecessary hospitalizations.
Why Home-Based Care Matters
Private Duty Nursing play an essential role in preserving independence and comfort for individuals with SMA. A stable and skilled caregiver team can help clients manage symptoms, detect complications early, and enjoy the familiarity of home. In fact, studies show that home-based interdisciplinary care for SMA patients leads to improved respiratory outcomes and caregiver satisfaction (Wang et al., 2021).
A Month to Reflect and Act
Spinal Muscular Atrophy Awareness Month is not just about education—it’s about community, visibility, and advocacy. At Adoration, we are proud to stand with our clients and their families, not only in August, but every day of the year.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with SMA—or if you’re a care provider seeking trusted support for a patient—please reach out to our team. We’re here to help.
Adoration Home Health & Private Duty Nursing
Compassionate Care. Clinical Excellence. Right at Home.
References
Prior, T. W. (2020). Spinal muscular atrophy diagnostics. Journal of Child Neurology, 35(9), 595–603.
Wang, C. H., Finkel, R. S., Bertini, E. S., Schroth, M. K., Simonds, A. K., Wong, B. L., … & Swoboda, K. J. (2021). Consensus statement for standard of care in spinal muscular atrophy. Journal of Child Neurology, 32(6), 747–758.
Download a copy of this article here.