Any suggestions on how to get fiber into my Dad so he won't be constipated?

My Mother was always constipated, or at least having hard marbles instead of soft stools. She used to do enemas on a daily basis. She even started getting hemorrhoids too. When she moved in with me, we went to the Dr. He suggested Mira Lax (or generic) in the morning. I put it into her tea. Then a stool softener in the morning after breakfast, and 2 tablespoons of mineral oil every night. This along with lots of water helps her tremendously.

I agree with drkernisan especially the part about the intestine turning into concrete. Senna works well and is very gentle (no cramping). There are so many products to help with this problem. Also, I'm not sure if you remember the BRAT diet when young children have loose bm's. Bananas, rice, apples and toast. If your loved one eats a lot of these types of things, it may be causing a little more of a problem. Peaches, plums, pears are all good for laxative type solutions. Even cheese can be binding. Hope this helps a little. Good luck with this. All these answers are great and it's nice to be able to sift through them and apply what you can to your particular situation.

Warm prune juice with a bit of Milk of Magnesia is pretty potent, if necessary. Also, stewed pitted prunes: pour hot water on dried prunes to soften. Drain water and add prunes to plain low fat yogurt.

Check with the dr. and see if they are okay with a dose of Miralax (I buy generic at Costco) daily is okay. It is tasteless and easy to take with a cup of coffee or tea or whatever.

It's a fallacy that people should concentrate on "fiber" . What will be helpful for him is to you evaluate his entire diet and make gentle changes that will improve his nutrition and bowel health. A healthy gut should contain natural prebiotics, probiotics, and a moderate ratio of protein to grains to fat. Prebiotics are indigestible food ingredients that stimulate (feed) the growth and maintenance of beneficial gut microbiota. Gut health is much more than just the small intestine. It’s almost as if there’s an entirely different digestive system playing out in the colon. The short answer is that you can change his digestive flora by cooking and feeding him a diet that can include apples, peanut butter, yams, whole grain/multigrain bread, lean meat protein, vegetables - cabbage, green beans, eggplant, tomatoes, the list is endless. Make a hearty bone broth based soup, rely on apples and yams for helping to get the bowels going and don't forget the kefir. Avoid sugary yogurt treats and toss the benefiber. This has worked for my mom for the past 15 years - she has no trouble, enjoys better health and appetite because of the variety and it is a great way to relax while cooking. When my grandfather was at the point where he could not chew, we used a baby food mill - it is a better option to be able to cook and blend everything. Hope this helps - it will take a few weeks to see positive results, but the toll constipation takes on elderly makes it worthwhile.

my dad loves prune juice

There are some excellent fiber mixes that can be put into smoothies with yogurt, water, fruit and other good things.
Great suggestions from everyone!
Carol

Try mixing GROUND flaxseed into cereals, muffin mixes etc. Probably a teaspoon or so to start.It is an easy way to provide needed "roughage". It is not noticed when mixed into soft foods. You can increase amount when you ascertain what is tolerable for him.

I am currently studying to become a Certified Herbalist. Chamomile is a great nervine relaxant (in other words, it helps to calm and relax you and is great for stress.) However, some great suggestions for herbs to use specifically for constipation are Casgrada, Sagrada, Dandelion, Date, Elder, Fennel Seed, Feverfew, Slippery Elm, and Flaxseed. These herbs can be taken by making an herbal tea, or you can grind flaxseed up into foods. Most importantly, make sure he is drinking plenty of water. A healthy diet full of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains also helps prevent constipation. You already have some great suggestions here as far as fiber-rich foods to help with the constipation, so I'm not going to go into that. Also, exercise and staying active also helps.

Do you have a health food store nearby? Try Aloe Vera Juice or the Ayurvedic herb combination Triphala. It comes loose as a tea but tastes bad so you would have to add honey. It aslo comes in tablets. There are lots of natural alternatives to fiber drinks.

hi Garryowen,
Even in people who are quite old w advanced dementia, it's generally good to aim for a comfy BM every 1-2 days, to prevent belly pain and agitation. Agree w Gigi11 above: there are many different things that contribute to constipation and fiber may not be the best solution.

Fiber tends to be great for young and middle-aged adults, but if you don't drink enough water and if your bowels have slowed for other reasons (older age and medications both cause this), the fiber can just sit in the intestine and practically turn into concrete.

Prunes work in part because they contain sugars that draw more water into the intestine. This makes the stool softer and easier to pass, and this is how Miralax works too.

Then there are bowel stimulants, like senna and bisacodyl. You can get these over-the-counter.

I find that many of my older patients do well with a little daily senna, +/- prunes or generic miralax. You have to do a little trial and error and find out what works for your father; if a little more dairy does the trick, then that's fine too. It's possible that more fiber is what he needs but since many older people tend to not drink a lot, I would be careful about ramping up the fiber unless you are using prunes or miralax as well.

Good luck!

Soak chia seeds in water and add them to a fruit smoothy or oatmeal. They have lots of omega 3's and are tasteless and mucilaginous, so help with digestion.

Is he allowed dairy? Put 24 OZ carton of plain yogurt, 2 or 3 sliced bananas, (or a carton of strawberries, or 2 or 3 peaches), a couple TBSP honey together in a food processor or blender 'til smooth. You may have to do part of it at a time depending on what equipment you have, just experiment. Then you can pour it into one of those 2 quart rubbermaid bottles with lid, and pop in fridge. Keeps for 4 or 5 days, just get it out, shake bottle good, pour desired amount in a glass, easy to drink with a straw. I've even put in a pinch of ginger or cinnamon, (natural anti inflammatory), canned peaches or apricots in juice, a splash of milk or juice if it's too thick, you really can't mess it up. Live cultures in the yogurt help balance the intestines too, it's really good, close to a milk shake.

Bananas, you can incorporate fruits and veges that he likes to eat. You can also use a fiber supplement and add it to foods or drinks. It mixes up without grit or taste. Benefiber is a good one.

I battle constipation tendency and although all the above advice works great here's what I do: 3 tablespoons (adjust to your need) of ground up golden flaxseed in a glass of juice. Let it sit about 5 minutes so the seeds soften up like gelatin. Flaxseeds are full of nutrition as well as help digestion and passing the food effortlessly out of the body without strain or friction.

The Indian herb: Triphala Churna is also what I use when all else fails or if I forget to use flaxseed. You can find it online or in an Indian store. It's very inexpensive: it's a ground up powder from 3 fruits, also health benefits. Strengthens the muscles that move the bowels. I can feel the difference as well as see the good results!

Another thought: if you want your elder parent to have nutrition and chewing is a problem, buy a cheap juicer and give them vegetable juices, while also enjoying the juice yourself!

The first issue is what medications is he taking that are causing the constipation. There are some great-tasting fiber rich bars available now so one can get both fiber and taste into breakfast or anytime. I particularly like "Kind" products which contain lots of nuts and seeds that taste good, are filling, and will eliminate the constipation problem. Oatmeal is bulky, and often times in the elderly it will constipate one taking medications or not. My husband has a problem with oatmeal now, when he didn't in the past, so I understand his resistance to eating oatmeal now. Taste buds also change in the elderly. So mix things up! Good luck!

Those high fiber bars are a good way to get fiber. They taste like a candy bar. I'd take it out of the wrapper and slice it into pieces on a little plate with some fruit, so it looks like you fussed on a little appetizer. Worked on my mom!

Apple juice and if you have your own juicer than that would be better. My husband had a stroke and I use an apple and orange sometimes add pineapple and or strawberries.

I was told not to worry cuz that's body slowing down,when mom only goes once a week. But I agree it adds to agitation and confusion..mayb keep a food journal see how much he is eating also what he is eating the most, may b able to add to it

Did a doctor diagnose the cause of his constipation as a shortage of fiber? I ask because there are many possible reasons.

My mother is 96 and a dementia patient. When she's stopped up, I brew a strong cup of chamomile tea with honey and get her to drink while it's hot. Works every time for her. I learned this from a nurse's aide who said even hot water can do the trick. Another suggestion from nurses and aides is to heat up prune juice.

Have you thought about getting hospice involved at this point? They can be a big help and the stage of his dementia may allow him to qualify.

Blessings to you both on this challenging journey.

chop prunes and put them in muffins, cookies ir breads. Raisins work well for a lot of peoplem too Also, epson salt in a glass of water or whatever they will drink, Start with 1 teaspoon or less until you know hiw effective it will be. Another thing is flax seed.

Thank you for all your suggestions. My Dad is approaching the severe stage of Alz. He has aphasia. He can feed himself and he can walk but that's about all. He doesn't like veggies or most fruits so we are limited in eating choices plus he has very little teeth. So it's getting kind of difficult. So I need to get him regular as I think constipation can make him more confused and agitated is this correct? Thanks for caring!

When my dad skips a day of BM, I give him 1 cup of Ovaltine a day. He loves chocolate milk, and I figured Ovaltine is more nutritious than a box of chocolate milk from the store. I also bought probiotic but... he doesn't want to take it. When my mom was having problem with BM, I bought Benefiber in powder form. I can mix it in her milk or water.

Date nut bread with cream cheese. Absofrigginglutly delicious, and eating it regularly keeps you regular. I've stopped and started 3 times to prove thats what has been helping both mom and me. I've got my brothers eating it now.

Another little boost that may help is Benefiber. You can add it to his food or drink. It is tasteless and dissolves well, so he probably won't even realize he is getting fiber.

Something else that may help him move things along is daily MiraLax in his juice. MiraLax is a gentle laxative recommended by doctors. It helps many people stay regular enough.

Would he eat any kind of beans? They have a lot of fiber. Also any kind of fruits and veggies - berries, dark leafy greens. Can you tell us more about your dad's abilities at this point? Is he generally able to feed himself? Does he need foods pureed, or can he eat normal foods?

My Dad has issues with being constipated and what worked best for him was old fashioned Sunsweet prune juice. Sunsweet also makes pitted prunes that one can eat as a snack. Hope this works for your Dad.