How do I help my Mom's (88) digestive system when she recently has stopped having regular BMs on a daily basis?

As people age, and they eat less and drink less and move around less, the bowel function slows down. She may no longer "move" every day.

However, you indicate that she is eating and drinking and moving. So, Good job with the prune juice. You don't want her to become dependent upon a laxative if at all possible. Beware of fiber supplements as they draw water from the tissues and elderly don't drink enough water anyway. You can use suppositories, fruit with every meal (I use the little cups of cut up fruit, but the seals are impossible for mom to open by herself). Miralax is a good powder to mix with juice, it's not gritty and is tasteless. I can just use a half dosage and it works to keep mom regular. A hot beverage in the morning seems to help get things moving too. As a last resort, there are premixed enemas available. But you definitely want to try to avoid getting to that point. I think, too, that the dementia kind of works against you. They seem to forget they may need to sit there for a few minutes and push a little. I know mom just expects it to fall out of her at this point.

Lots of rambling thoughts, I know, but maybe you can glean something useful out of it.

Miralax was recommended by my parents' gerontologist when they have had issues. It's now over-the-counter (used to be by prescription). So I second that a a way to go. You use it every day. And I wouldn't be too worried if mom isn't going every day. Four days is probably too long, but I don't think everyone goes every day.

I'd also recommend high fiber foods, like beans. My 95-year old mom eats them regularly and is regular to boot! But start with a small amount, to make sure mom can tolerate them. Veggies also have lots of fiber. Good luck and keep us posted!

I have found that pancakes served with sugar-free syrup works well to get things going. The sucralose (splenda) in the syrup is an effective laxative.

Yup, pintos are awesome! I also give my mom a lot of mixed nuts, which also have a lot of fiber and good fats. She thinks they're a treat, so she really snarfs them down. I'm convinced that's what's keeping her weight stable, which was an issue for a while.

Miralax 1/2 dose in morning coffee usually does fine. Also I get raisonettes (they now have a dark chocolate version) and keep dried fruit around which I give to mom as a treat.

One funny thing is that mom's leg pains increase with reduced BM's so when she complains of leg pain I usually tell her she is full of S*** and although I mean it in joke...its true and makes me chuckle as well.

We have also used benefiber (1/2 dose in coffee every morning) but then it was not available for about 2 years...but it is back now.

We have a plan...dried fruit and pushing fluids - if daily stool, we stop there (level 1); 1/2 dose of miralax in coffee plus level 1 for up to 2 days (level 2); full dose of miralax plus prune juice and level 1 for 1 day (level 3); suppositories and phillips milk of magnesia are level 4 options but rarely used if we stay with the rest of the plan.

I try to remember to ask how the bowels are doing. Although I really don't want the details...if I don't ask I don't know how to escalate the treatment levels.

Also make sure you check with PCP as some items may not be correct due to medications and or medical problems...

Go to a health food store and see what they suggest as well as this forum. Probiotics maybe. You may want to try,oh great I forget, It's apowder, something something calming powder. It goes with calcium and magnesium, and vitamin D. Soothing Calm? blue and orange color plastic container, I think, but that should help her. If you talk with a health food store, they should know what it is....I think it's powder magnesium...Kinda of sour, if I recall correctly.

sunshine... my mother has been experiencing this for the past few months. As their body changes so do the BM's. What I did, mainly because I wanted to keep my mothers nutritious intake up... I started making her those smoothie's. I now pack in bags of spinach, apples, oranges, cucumbers, red peppers, celery, BEETS, plain yogurt and berries. Then I will freeze them in either the ice tray or several cupcake pans. Take out 3 at a time, blend them with water, ensure and juice ( you can add whatever you want at this point) and she loves them. She has went from every 4 days and hurting to every 2 days and feeling ok. She loves the juice since it's sweet (hidden veggies) and it's a win win for both of us.

My mom had bouts of constipation for years. We finally hit on a formula that has worked for a year now. She eats three prunes a day and a half cup of coleslaw. The real trick is Activia yogurt which she also has once a day. I think the probiotics in it have really helped her system. I know Activia suggests two servings a day, but at 87 pounds, one a day works for her.

Lots of people don't go every day, every fourth day is still within the normal zone. It's a struggle to get my mom to go even that often, yet she is not "constipated", in that her movements are soft, just infrequent. Include easily digested fiber, make sure she drinks enough and encourage her to move. As txcamper says, everything slows down as we age, even our digestion.

My mother has the same problem, and we started looking at her meds. We stopped any H2Blockers or go easy on them when she has severe heartburn. Then we looked at her diet and cut back on too much yogurt, cheese, white starches, etc. So it's onto to lentils, raisins, aged bananas, whole wheat rice, bread, etc. for a while until she becomes more regular. She always drinks plenty of water, and I do believe it is stress related and lack of movement. We live in the Chicagoland area, and being in a deep freeze, has hindered her walking outdoors.