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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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. :)
I third the Activia yogurt suggestion. My mom has one daily and also eats three prunes and takes a Senekot-S pill every day. Her constipation issues are gone.
My mom, who is 86 with Alzheimers, also had that same issue. I started giving her Activia yogurt every morning and add a little fruit to it. My mom loves it. Activia keeps the stools regular. It actually solved the problem.
I'll had my 2 cents on magnesium. Works great and doesn't come with warnings on long-term use. I use Magna Calm by Longevity Science. It is a powdered beverage and absorbs better than tablets. Has mild citrus flavor, clear liquid, can add a little juice to flavor it more. Magnesium also has a long list of other benefits to the body, and brain. Good luck.
Arizona l: l forgot to tell you to add liquid, l vary it, almond milk (NO CARRAGEEN, TOXIC), organic RAW goat milk, easier to digest than cows milk, pricy but nutrient dense. If she wants it sweeter, try "POM" pure Pomegranate Juice. My in a hurry fiber food, only by mail, Julian Breads Carb Net Zero, $$7,59, IT IS NOT REALLY BREAD, that you toast, it works with Raw, Organic Almond Butter or Organic Tahini w/Trader Joes Organic Raspberry, no sugar, fruit juice sweetened jam. 9 grams fiber per slice, massive bowel movements like the jolly green giant? must drink a lot of liquid with this bread because of fiber. I use it for sliced chicken/w Avocado for in hurry sandwich. This bread helps me keep my weight down.
We've had very good luck with aloe gel. Used for years, very effective, no side effects. A soft jelly like substance that comes direct from the aloe plant. We buy at a health food store, but I'm sure you can find it online. It has a light citrus taste.
You can, on her behalf learn about optimum nutrition by signing up with David Perlmutter MD on his fb page. Meanwhile. Make an easy to shake protein drink for her, l recommend "Skinny Gut" massive Probiotics, fiber, protein, also you can use blender, add Trader Joe's frozen wild blueberries,or Organic raspberries, 2 TBSP organic Ground Flax Seeds. If that's not enough, have her add a TBSP of Psyillium Husks (it gels) have to blend. Rotate the Psyillium with Chia Gel, (add l TBSP) to 1/2 glass water, it gels as well. I had a cleaning lady w/lifetime of constipation heal in a week doing this !!!!!!! feel free to write me.
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.
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.
Do elderly drink coffee?
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).