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My family doctor has done a wonderful thing; simply suggesting benefiber for Mom. It not only helps form stood with diarrhea issues, it helps with constipation as well. We use the powder with prebiotic twice a day and it is miraculous! I have recently found benefiber prebiotic + probiotic gummies online, and have ordered them to try as well. The 2nd and probably most important thing is water consumption. Mom hates drinking water; I add "tru lime" naturally flavored drink mix to 16 oz of water ( I use half a packet per glass) with the benefiber and she enjoys it . Most older people don't drink enough, and it can cause all sorts of issues in the body. Hope this is helpful.
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Hi. I’m sorry to hear about your dads problem.

if your dad can chew well, regular leafy green salads may assist in digestion due to the fiber and water within. If he can’t chew well, possibly blending in machine/food processor?

I give my husband probiotics for digestion daily and a stimulant free, stool softener at night only when needed.

Water intake is a definite. My mom used to drink water at home, now in nursing facility and rarely drinks water, even though we bring bottles of water to her. She has problems like your dad. They do need encouragement, especially when they’re forgetful. Stool hardens without a good source of fiber and water. Water is good for assisting to prevent dehydration and softening stool.

with me, oily dressings on salads put me right into the bathroom.

Im not a doctor, but I hope this info helps.

I thought I remember reading years ago, something about a lax colon. If too many enemas or laxitives.... but I can’t look up now because I’ll lose my letter to you. I think a stool softener such as colace is safer than taking laxatives, in my opinion. The stimulant free colace my husband and mom takes are pretty safe for them. My husband is waiting for a heart transplant. But you can always ask pharmacist.

also, I remember my grandmother years ago, she was diabetic and didn’t eat well all the time, we gave her glucerna. As soon as she drank it, she had to get right into the bathroom. There’s other shakes for non diabetics as well, if your dad isn’t eating all that well. I wonder if those shakes would give your dad the same affect?

I hope this helps even if just a bit and the two of you stay safe and well.
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Gerber pear juice.
Mariani probiotic prunes
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MOST constipation is due to lack of fluids -- the elderly do not sense they are thirsty and often dehydrate. This is in addition to decreased motility. That is the main reason why I took care of my mom to ensure her care is done correctly and her basic needs met. Dehydration is very dangerous as it will do kidney damage as well. Without sufficient fluids, the stool will harden. Impaction can occur as little as four days. The stool becomes very hard like a softball and cause blockage. This is a medical emergency. Ironically a symptom of impaction is liquid diarrhea because fluids will go around that hard fecal mass. There are cases the elderly vomit out fecal material through their mouth which is deadly because that can go into their lungs and cause aspiration pneumonia. The stool has come out somehow. That is why eventually I had to put my mom on a very strict bowel schedule. She went every Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays and I had to use lactulose, which worked very well. This was to prevent impaction.

LACTULOSE is the only "safe" long-term laxative and works well even with kidney disease. Lactulose is an indigestible sugar that goes into the lower intestines and accumulates water thus assists with elimination. This is a good "laxative" when eating and drinking become more of a problem. Before mom had her feeding tube put in, I spent an average of two hours feeding her PER MEAL and giving her fluids teaspoon by teaspoon due to the ravages of Alzheimer's disease. I used the feeding tube as a last resort so she would not have to die of dehydration which can take two weeks. THAT took even more care. Feeding tubes are not easy to maintain but I never had any problem with it.

Alternatively, if your dad still eats, you can buy sugarless chocolate CANDY with sorbitol--it acts like Lactulose and can loosen stool.

BUT you have to watch for signs/symptoms of DEHYDRATION. If they are not taking in enough fluids, that's the problem and inducing bowel movements can further dehydration.

If he has kidney disease any kind of laxative with magnesium or phosphate in it will become toxic as it requires healthy kidneys to excrete these elements.

If the elderly is on any kind of psychotropic drug which are anticholinergic in effect, this will cause constipation as well. Anticholinergics...even Benadryl..can cause constipation due to their effect; Benadryl can also cause urinary retention and enlarge the prostate. Narcotics are notorious for slowing bowel motility to the point it can incarcerate the bowel (twist and kill the bowels).

I never had my mom on any narcotic or psychotropic.

Level of function and medication review are in order.

You see it is more complicated than you think.
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M209M209 May 2021
@cetude: Interesting about sorbitol. I would be reluctant to give it to anyone only because of my own experience via sugarless gum (I chewed a lot of it). Experienced lots of upset tummy issues for a long time until I accidentally discovered that sorbitol doesn’t agree with everyone.
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The individually wrapped prunes are sweet, soft and easier for staff to dispense. They come in flavors too! ....chocolate and berry.
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I find placing treats for the staff in the room increased their visits. You might add a note asking them to give him some water each time. The best of them are very busy, and kind, small requests are often a good place to begin dealing with them.
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Try Psillium husk. Recommended by doctors for 80 years. It's the ingredient in Metamucil. It's MUCH less expensive, and you're not paying for the additives and advertising. Available online and in most health food stores.
Take as directed, which means enough water. It is possible some elders would object to the texture. Important to let it soften in the liquid you're mixing it in, but it only takes a minute at most or it gets unpleasantly thick. This route is probably only going to work for people who are not overly picky. (Most privileged persons, maybe.)
Available in capsules too, again, if you're happy spending extra money.
I eat a very high fiber diet, but still require this all natural supplement for my system to function regularly and comfortably.
It's not something I crave but takes less than a minute at most and has changed my life for the better.
Oh --- and I second the daily use of extra magnesium.
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Lulubell May 2021
Oh I see the answer in someone's reply: to help ensure the supplement is given by caregivers.
Thanks.
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Papaya is excellent for digestion and bowel movement.

Slice it and sprinkle with lime, and your father will go naturally.
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jacobsonbob May 2021
I had to laugh when I saw this. My girlfriend and I were at a Chinese buffet, and a cute little server was one with whom we often got into conversations. One day we were talking about papaya, and she said one has careful not to eat too much because, as she said softly, "you have to poo-poo!"
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Here is the list I have used for decades: Ginger is number one ties with garlic. Peppermint is another for stomach problems. These teas aid with bowel movements as well.

I pray these help you.
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TouchMatters May 2021
Where is the list. Glad to see garlic and ginger as I use both (ginger root) in my regular 3-4 x / week bullet (blender) drink.
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I have found dried prunes a tasty and effective addition to our diet. We are both nearly 80 years old. They don’t have to be refrigerated.
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My brother has the same problem. Suggest docusate calcium. The chemicals aren't as harsh as some. It comes in capsules and liquid. Don't take for more than a week without checking with a doctor; patients with bowel obstructions, etc., should not take it on a long term basis. Most pharmacies only carry docusate sodium. Docusate calcium is more expensive.
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Any time my husband, me or my mom have issues, we eat chicken chop suey from a Chinese restaurant. My husband is not a fan but when he is asking for chinese, I know he's having an issue. Next morning, all fixed. Its one of those "believe it or not" things but it really does work for us. No chemicals or nasty tasting drinks, but works wonders for constipation.
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I wonder if foods such as hot peppers help with this, acting as a sort of stimulant. Will elderly people eat hot peppers in their foods?
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how about some figs, dates or prunes? they have individually wrapped prunes, that are actually pretty good. prune juice also, something with fiber but you have to make sure you drink plenty of water then also...........otherwise it will not do anything. wish you luck.
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Imho, the gastrointestinal tract is a complex thing. One item to attempt to regulate it is to take a daily probiotic. Elders also typically do not consume enough water. If an elder is on pain medicine, it will cause constipation. My mother was in a vicious cycle of not be able to go and then having diarrhea. She swore off ever taking Imodium, which became a real dilemma. Prune juice is a staple of an elder's pantry.
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Eating oatmeal every morning will help a lot, but it needs to be old-fashioned oatmeal rather than the instant kind. Make sure to include a variety of fruit and vegetables in the diet too, particular leafy greens. And it goes without saying that drinking lots of water or watery soups is also important.
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Wow! There are a lot of good suggestions here. You just need to try the some or combination of remedies to see what works best for your Dad. Be patient and do not rush because it takes time. Just be cautious if he has taken a laxative do not also give him a remedy trial then you will not know if it works.
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Prunes with breakfast.
Puree apple or pear with dinner.
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There are several thing the staff at the nursing home can do to help him have better digestive health. The goal is consistency. Any treatment plan that leads to having a bm at least every 3 days without creating diarrhea or constipation is considered a success. It may take some experimenting to find the right routine.
1 - Make sure he drinks at least 2 liter of fluids - mostly water - every day.
2 - Make sure he has high fiber diet - lots of produce and lots of whole grains. Any veggies or fruit that are "crunch" have plenty of fiber. Oatmeal has plenty of fiber. Nuts, not nut butters, also have plenty of fiber.
3 - Fiber supplements usually work well. Some can be added to drinks, some are gummies, and some come in pill form.
4 - Ask about his magnesium levels. If his magnesium is low, his digestive tract will move slower. He can either take magnesium in pills or as Milk of Magnesia.
5 - If he is taking iron supplements (for anemia) or opioides (for pain), they can slow his digestion down.
6 - There are reliable medications to help with constipation. Colace is a stool softener and tends to work better if taken at night. Fleets enemas can help loosen up hard stool. Linzess makes the digestive tract work a little faster and is given 1 hour before breakfast.
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