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

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

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.

Is this your husband you talk about in your profile? What age? How long with the Alzheimer's? Did he ever have constipation problems in the past and/or take laxatives are enemas? Have any rectal surgeries or injuries?

With age or inactivit, the peristaltic action of the intestine slows down. Often even soft stools are not evacuated. Sometimes more fiber or even softer stools are necessary to get things moving. Have you discuss this with the doctor? Ask about docusate sodium (DSS), a stool softener. There are a couple of fiber additives that you can stir into water or juice and virtually disappears. I don't think you have any luck trying to get him to drink psyllium or Metamucil. I didn't with my mom. She never had any hard impactions or true constipation but because of surgery for an anal fissure many years before, she would get rectal blockages and the only way to get things started was digital deimpaction. Kinda sounds familiar. 2 doses of benefiber or citrucell + 400 mg of DSS daily, plus a good diet usually allowed for natural evacuation. Be sure to talk to the doctor first.

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.

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.