The Professionals S2016E08 - Recovering the Joy of Eating - Tamami Koyama, Nurse

When elderly people already weakened by age suffer a stroke or develop aspiration pneumonia, they may be told by their doctors that eating is no longer an option. That's where a Japanese nurse named Tamami Koyama steps in. She's an expert in helping patients with difficulty swallowing recover the ability to eat. Taking food by mouth stimulates the senses of sight, smell and taste and activates the brain. It also encourages the secretion of saliva, with enzymes and antibodies that fight infections and bolster immunity. Most of all, eating nurtures the joy of being alive. Of the roughly 2,000 people Koyama has assisted, 90% have successfully resumed eating. Her attentive care and meticulous techniques help patients reclaim a core part of their existence.