How do you deal with non bowel action in Alzheimer's patient?

Have you mentioned this to the Dr. at all? Sometimes depending on the medications that they are taking is a factor. Lots of fluids and fruit is needed. How is his ambulation because movement also helps to get things going. The muscles do get weak with the elderly, if he is getting enough fiber and such I would mention it to the Dr.

How long does your person sit on the toilet? Usually there's a point when a person automatically goes without the need to push, just because! At least for a healthy person. I'm sorry, I don't know what the answer might be for an AD patient. Does the patient know he has to use the toilet? Is the urge there and he just doesn't push? My Dad will sit on the toilet for 10 or 15 minutes and eventually go (then go through the house with the used toilet paper in his hand!). He does say on occasion that he doesn't remember how to pee (sorry), but he manages to do this, also. Perhaps he just needs to sit for a period of time until he automatically goes. Hopefully someone here will have an answer for you! Hugs.

If they are not going, you can try putting some Cilium in their diet, I have used the kind that dissolves in liquids of any kind, coffee, tea, milk, etc., I used to stir it into step-dads coffee. You can get the Wal-Mart brand, it is cheaper. Hope this helps.

I found that giving them fiber in a pill form as opposed to drinking it, such as Metamucil, etc. is very successful.

This really isn't in response to your questions, you have some good suggestions to try here, but it made me think of something I learned. Elderly people think they have to have a BM everyday. They don't. Nor do we. Every few days is fine and no BM for a few days is no cause for alarm. Longer than that though and there needs to be intervention of some kind.

I live with 60 year old stroke patient who is partially paralyzed. He walks a lot on the country property where we lived, so the gravity pull helps him. Still he does not always make it to the toilet-oh well. I give him a pill of probiotic plus yogurt everyday for to promote normal bowel texture and release. He does not drink water, so we give him watered down juice quite for dehydration. We use soaked prunes in his yogurt in the morning. Since metamucil is wheat and can cause diarrhea, so other forms of fiber are best. Dietary fiber can be even better, like brown basmati rice instead of white rice, or brown rice pasta for mac and cheese? I add cooked pieces of broccoli as well. Although high in fiber, beans of any nature don't seem to work though for Mr. P. Occasionally I will still add some white beans to spaghetti sauce though. A balance diet with plenty of protein and fruits seem to work the best.

Thanks for all the replies and suggestions!
the guy is 80 yrs old and AD since 2002. so we are getting to the end, but it may be a long time coming as he is so fit. still walks, eats and sleeps well. mostly cheerful but can get easily tired when he will get violent a bit. does not really hit me - just threatens to do so! I follow the advice, leave him alone for a while to stew.Then I manage to get him in bed, he falls asleep immediately and wakes up angelic!
Was incontinent since last summer. Now, if timing is right, can pee in toilet but the poop is stuck. I can tell because a wipe is dirty. He has not wiped his own bottom for years! Pull up diapers are wonderful, hi-tech material means it can hold several pees too without getting sore cos of one way pass through layer.
He is not constipated. As there is indication of poop from a wipe - and even if I sit him on toilet for hours with a magazine to flip , he does not push out! the indication is there every 3-4 days. When we do a finger job, there are huge amts to pull out. He does not help much, but standing he does sort of bend a bit, which makes it easier to finger out. S o not constipated and this is why I am trying to give him diarrhea!
He eats oats daily, Plenty of green vegetables and fruit. Prunes and prune juice, fresh oranges, yoghurt, blueberries. You name it, he eats it. He has a very very balanced diet.
I could give him a soapy enema every now and then instead of the fingering. it will be real messy and not sure if he will submit to this as it is better done lying down. His comprehension is very slow , if at all, so he mostly does not co-operate.
coping with him for11 long years and I have had it. I wish he would die soon. Yes it is depressing, but I cope and have to get on with it. When he no longer recognizes me and is bed bound - I will get him into a home. By then it should be the end.
I do not think there is any suggestion I have not tried. there is no blockage - he just does not push any more.
Gwendo

Gwendo, just saw your thank you comments above. So dad is not constipated, he just does not push. I wonder if the magnesium would help anyway, as it relaxes the bowel muscle, and he may not need to push in order to release. Since you are looking to create diareah, this may soften the bowel a bit more without the messy diarreah. I cannot imagine handling your Dad's situation as long as you have. God Bless you! I hope you will consider putting him into a facility sooner than later, and get your life back. You can be just as diligent making sure they keep him as clean as you do, without killing yourself in the process. You can visit frequently and then go home and sleep nights. He will know you love him just as much. I don't mean to be presumptuous, but how long can you keep up these Herculean efforts?

CarolLynn: Thank you for clarifying the different forms of magnesium to use for different purposes - very helpful info. I just checked the bottle I have been using and it just says Magnesium 250mg. The fine print under Ingredients specifies Magnesium Oxide. It's a round tablet, a bit bigger than an aspirin, and as you said, great for poop issues!

A note for all caregivers. If you need to crush pills make sure they are allowed to be crushed. Long acting meds may never be crushed as the whole days dose gets given at once - not good! Other pills may have a bitter taste and prompt the patient to refuse. Also all meds except liquids can be given rectally BUT the rectum needs to be clear of poop. They take a little longer to work. When you give the next dose you may find what looks like complete shells in the rectum and assume the med has not worked. These are called "ghosts". The medicine is absorbed through the shell and when given rectally they may not be absorbed.
For Gwendo, putting a "Guards" inside the diaper pants or the nighttime open type greatly extends the period of absorbency.
For those who are not familiar they are like a female sanitary pad but bigger and shaped to accommodate the male anatomy. They can be worn by any male who is capable in ordinary underwear. This also helps keep the cost down and protects dignity when using a public rest room.