Hi my mom is 87 and has dementia. She does not drink much and does not eat fruits. She has been having serious constipation. Her doctor has recommended giving her milk of magnesia, but this works sometimes and mostly not. Tom
Go quick like a bunny to your supermarket and come back with a bottle of prune juice. Give her a juice glass full of prune juice (warmed in the microwave). You may have to do this a couple of days in a row, maybe three, but you will be surprised how well it works. A visiting nurse told me this when she was here to check up on my hubby who has dementia. If your mother has constipation on a regular basis, be sure you give her a juice glass (warmed up) of prune juice every day. No more constipation. And it's the natural way. Milk of Magnesia is not "natural." Good luck. :)
Miralax was too much for my Mom. Apple juice too often did not bind but went in the other direction. We found her new cholesterol med, Welco, was constipating her. Took her off but she still takes iron so I give her two Colace, OTC, in the morning and it seems to help. Next Dr. Visit and I'm seeing if she needs to continue the iron.
Get a banana molasses bread recipe and blend nuts add that nut powder to the mix and you will have perfect poop. One slice does it. Added iron also a benefit. Find the one with 1 cup molasses instead of sugar. Better than the poop pills.
Miralax is great - it has no taste so can be added to coffee, milk, water, etc. Just read the instructions - it's really gentle and doesn't cause loose stools.
My mother is 100 years old and has been living with us for a year and a half after breaking her hip. She had been taking laxatives for years which are unpredictable and most of the time, very messy. ugh! I started buying her a fibre cookie called "Bowel Buddy". No more laxatives and has a BM every day.
I was told by a nurse in a nursing/rehab 1 T. Miralax, 2 T. Milk of Magnesia mixed into a half of a glass of Prune juice. I give it to my husband who suffers from Parkinson's Disease and dementia once a week and I give him two stool softeners a day and this seems to work for him. I had tried the dried prunes, even steeped in warm water, mineral oil just about everything that his doctor said and yet he was bleeding and gotten hemmoroids This cocktail seems to be the answer to his problems with constipation.
Raw apples, cut into thin slices and serve with a drizzle of honey (or a mini bowl for her to dip slices into) Shake some cinnamon if you think she will like it better. This combo has fiber, pectin, natural fruit sugar, as well as the honey (another form of sugar, I forget which) but the main thing is it is more likely to be consumed than prune juice which most people think is yucky in appearance, texture and taste. Long term, she should have a small 4 Oz serving of yogurt (with live active cultures ) or kefir (drinkable yogurt).
One ounce of Miralax or generic equivalent daily in her favorite drink. Its what all care homes do and what all geriatric doctors recommend for elderly patients.
fibogel works probably the best but it is vile and if you donate drink it straight away it sets, I find cauliflower works well for mum, Lactulose but you might know it as Duphalac, Kristalose, Cephulac in USA, Out of preference I give mum Laxido but she does have to drink it. Your Mum MUST have liquid and quite a lot of it each day or you will find she will get UTI's which takes dementia to a whole new level believe me. While you can put drugs in her fave drink she MUST know you are doing for if you are anything like the UK covert medication is illegal unless approved by doctors in writing
1/3 rd to 1/2 of a snack-size cup of applesauce, mixed with easily digestible chia seeds, daily. About one teaspoon chia seeds. Ask her doctor about the chia seeds if she has diverticulitis. The snack-size because it is easier. You eat the rest. Otherwise, just try the applesauce.
Add babyfood fiber to her spaghetti sauce in the flavor of squash, sweet potatoes. Add fruit to a smoothie with kale, applesauce, and other good stuff. Recipes online.
Oh, and there is always cod liver oil, they gave that to us as kids.
Pain meds cause constipation. Decrease or change them.
Any change in bowel habits is a concern. Check for blood.
Just a little addition to all these wonderful ideas. I remember when our kids were little and the doctor told us that the "P" fruits were good for this. Peaches, pears, plums and prunes. You can find soft versions of these as well as fruit juice. Prune juice seems to do the work the best, but everyone is different. Good luck.
An RN advised me some months ago (my husband has dementia and had constipation for a while) to give him a small juice glass of prune juice every day (any time during the day). She advised against Milk of Magnesia since prune juice is a natural food. He drank half a juice glass one day and the next day BINGO! But he hasn't had constipation since. When he does, I will be sure to bring out the prune juice.
Go for the probiotics. Take one every other day. You can over-do probiotics so, ... Also, I drink Kefir milk and avoid the pill form probiotics forthat day. I also take 3 prunes soaked in 4 oz of prune juice with breakfast every day.
As we are all individual and because the others don't work as well for Mum I thought I would throw in my 2 pen north. I find Mums meds had a lot to do with her constipation and now they are sorted out we have less trouble. If it does start to loom though I find cauliflower and sprouts are great for sorting her digestion out.
At 80 years old I eat 3 prunes soaked in prune juice every morning with breakfast. I also drinkthe juice after eating the prunes. Works great. Have your Mom 'sit' for a longer period while trying to have a BM. Tell her to coax her bowl muscles to start in motion by giving slight pushes about every 20 seconds. This will start a natural BM in her system. It will take about 3-5 coaxing pushes but, it takes a bit longer but, time will help. We are just a bit slower as we age so, coaxing is the way to go. I get a lot of crossword puzzles done at those times. Ag
If she's not hydrated enough I don't think there's much you can do. Particularly if she's taking medications like opioids that slow down bodily functions. Oats and honey cereals with plenty of milk work for me.
In any case, call her dietitian / nutritionist for tips. Good luck my friend.
We're dealing with this now with my aunt in her nineties. Her doctor recommends more fiber in her diet, Miralax every day, and Milk of Magnesia or Magnesium (?) as needed. We were using Ex Lax but it is too harsh for her. Started the Miralax today so we'll see how that goes.
From my experience the best remedy is MORE fluids, whether it is juice, milk, soda or water. Without adequate fluids, normal BMs are difficult and fiber makes constipation worse if there are not plenty of fluids.
Squash also helps. I think because they contain a lot of water.
Shake some cinnamon if you think she will like it better. This combo has fiber, pectin, natural fruit sugar, as well as the honey (another form of sugar, I forget which) but the main thing is it is more likely to be consumed than prune juice which most people think is yucky in appearance, texture and taste. Long term, she should have a small 4 Oz serving of yogurt (with live active cultures ) or kefir (drinkable yogurt).
Do elderly drink coffee?
Oh, and there is always cod liver oil, they gave that to us as kids.
Pain meds cause constipation. Decrease or change them.
Any change in bowel habits is a concern. Check for blood.
Also, I drink Kefir milk and avoid the pill form probiotics forthat day. I also take 3 prunes soaked in 4 oz of prune juice with breakfast every day.
In any case, call her dietitian / nutritionist for tips. Good luck my friend.
Squash also helps. I think because they contain a lot of water.