There are many everyday juices and OTC remedies that can help. When my dad had terrible constipation due to a fluid restricted diet the palliative care team suggested using a teaspoon of olive oil twice a day. We also used a product called CALM. Warmed prune juice, coffee fruit, probiotics and daily yogurt works wonders but bowel maintenance is an everyday or every other day chore. If the elder can drink push the water.
You need to be vigilant. Ask your caregivers to add to their notes for the day.
If an enema is truly needed a home health nurse could administer. My mom had to have an abdomen x-ray first to see if she was impacted. At least that is the case here (Florida)in a senior community.
a) possibly, but get medical advice. There are probably better options to try first. b) no. Giving someone else an enema falls outside a typical CNA's competencies.
In my opinion enemas are a last resort when they've gone over a week without a bowel movement and nothing else has worked. drink more add fiber to your diet try probiotics, both in food (kefir, yogurt) and as a supplement add in foods that are known laxatives like prunes/prune juice start with gentle laxatives like PEG3350 (Miralax) move on to natural laxatives like cascara or senna try glycerine suppositories bring in the bigger guns - bisacodyl oral and lactulose bisacodyl suppositories usually work when all else has failed finally... use a Fleet enema
You need to be vigilant. Ask your caregivers to add to their notes for the day.
If an enema is truly needed a home health nurse could administer. My mom had to have an abdomen x-ray first to see if she was impacted. At least that is the case here (Florida)in a senior community.
Good luck.
Sorry, meant to post this as a reply to CW.
b) no. Giving someone else an enema falls outside a typical CNA's competencies.
drink more
add fiber to your diet
try probiotics, both in food (kefir, yogurt) and as a supplement
add in foods that are known laxatives like prunes/prune juice
start with gentle laxatives like PEG3350 (Miralax)
move on to natural laxatives like cascara or senna
try glycerine suppositories
bring in the bigger guns - bisacodyl oral and lactulose
bisacodyl suppositories usually work when all else has failed
finally... use a Fleet enema