Anyone know what I can add to Mom's diet to prevent constipation?

I just got off the phone with my mom's doctor's office and they gave me this recipe for what they call Power Pudding. I don't know that you could get your mom to eat it, but I'm passing it along:
1 Cup Applesauce
1 Cup Bran
1 Cup Prune Juice

Eat one cup of this mixture. Some people add 1 Cup of Cool Whip. I don't know if that would disguise it enough for some people, but I guess some people find it helps.

Tom,
My mom has seen the best of gastrointerologists for aweful constipation. Actually when I took her to the gastrointerologists, I already had her to the ER a couple different times as well as doctors appointments. I thought.....wth are we going to see a professional gastrointerologists? When that doc came back and told me Mom was severely constipated, I didn't believe him. We had seen a kidney specialist, Gul bladder check and other stuff. Mom complained of her back and stomach hurting severely. Everyone said she was fine. I knew better! The Gastrointerologists advised me to give Mom MIRALAX on a daily basis. Said it works wonders. I said ok but I told him he was crazy and that wasn't it! After using the Miralax as he advised, it actually did work! From then on he advised to use MIRALAX, over the counter on a regular basis. You can sprinkle it on or in food, water, coffee or anything. This Miralax is the ONLY thing that works for my mom, along with an occasional dose of Milk of Magnesia. The best place to buy Miralax is at Wal Mart in the largest size available. Now I have her on a regiment of using it at least every other day and sometimes every 2-3 days. It's a trial an error. Try this. It's an amazing product and worth the money if taken on a regular basis. Good luck Tom.

Water. Definitely more water. I've struggled on and off with constipation for years, one thing you want to be very wary of is eating too much of the dry foods that absorb all of your bodily fluids. Some of those dry foods include any kind of chips, dried fruit, bread, cookies, and crackers. Be very wary of eating too much of these kinds of foods and not drinking enough water, it'll cause constipation. You can't just ate a bunch of dried food and not drink any water. It's actually best to drink more than you eat. That way, your body will function better. 

I should mention the part about laxatives that someone mentioned here. I found that as we get older we may tend to have seepage from our anal cavity's even though we don't have anymore to expel. I used to wonder why the mother of a friend of mine would have skidmarks in her panties when you saw them in the bathroom, and I think I now understand why. Sometimes when we get done and go to wipe we have globs oozing out of us even when we're done. I found an occasional laxative to clean everything out and you're very beneficial because then I can use less paper, it'll definitely will go much further after a rare round with a laxative. Sometimes it's good to just go ahead and clean out the plumbing because there are multiple benefits including being able to comfortably eat a full meal again without feeling bloated

The most helpful thing I have found is Pedia-Lax chewable tablets. Yes they are for children ages 2-11 yes of age. My Mom weighs 130 lbs so I give her 4 chewable tablets and give her two 4 oz cups of juice or Gatorade or Ensure about ten minutes apart. Within 30-45 mins it works. No cramping or stimulants. Works every time! You can also give her daily pedia-lax probiotics to keep the good bacteria to maintain natural digestive balance.
Give these a try, they are inexpensive, work fast, taste good and no rumbling/cramping tummy.

The most helpful thing I have found is Pedia-Lax chewable tablets. Yes they are for children ages 2-11 yes of age. My Mom weighs 130 lbs so I give her 4 chewable tablets and give her two 4 oz cups of juice or Gatorade or Ensure about ten minutes apart. Within 30-45 mins it works. No cramping or stimulants. Works every time! You can also give her daily pedia-lax probiotics to keep the good bacteria to maintain natural digestive balance.
Give these a try, they are inexpensive, work fast, taste good and no rumbling/cramping tummy.

Some of the products, however, warn not to use more than a certain amount of time. Miralax, for example, says not to use it for more than seven days. So, when you're looking to buy a product in that section of the store, make sure to check whether it's something to use long-term or short-term.

I've tried everything you can think of for my mom, starting with prunes and prune juice, chia and ground flax seed, then on to miralax every other day, then daily. I was having to resort to milk of magnesia more often and sometimes even that didn't work so had to move on to suppositories. Sometimes you reach a point where the bowel just doesn't function properly anymore. We have been put on a laxative routine that includes colace twice a day, senokot each evening and milk of magnesia if that doesn't work after three days. The warnings about laxative dependence are valid for you and I but less important at end of life. Speak to your doctor, and try try, try to increase her fluids.

I use Miralax about 3 days every other day every week. About 1/2 capful mixed in tea, applesauce or whatever I'm eating...you can't taste it and it isn't grainy or anything. It works wonderfully without the cramping, diarrhea, etc that some other stuff does. You can double the dose to get things moving and then back off on the dosage. Nice soft consistent stools. Best thing I've ever found.

I know that label warning is to not take consistently, but Ive been taking about a year without issue.

Hello Arizona I take care of dementia patient And she drinks coconut water I heard that good for contispation And i know you said she doesn't drink much I have that promblem to get the lady i take care of to get enough fluids Will if she doesn't like fruit apples are supposed to help and apple juice Good Luck I know it hard when they wont drink or eat right Hope this help Carolyn

Sugar is very laxative. Let her eat candy or suck on lozenges. Oh yes, the sugar-free cough drops are also laxative -- the artificial sweetener sorbitol.