Constipation with Seniors
By Ewa Frydel, Owner
Constipation is linked with digestive health.
Chances are we have all felt the ill effects of constipation more than once in our lives, but seniors are more susceptible to this condition. With their aging bodies, digestive health can also decline, making foods harder to process and nutrients less likely to be absorbed.
Let’s look into the causes of constipation in seniors and ways to prevent and treat it.
Causes of Constipation in Seniors
Lack of exercise. Movement gets things moving inside of seniors, and ourselves. A sedentary lifestyle is commonly one reason why constipation occurs; seniors are more likely to move their bodies the least. A sluggish body also means a slow gut. There are cultures that add a walk in their day 15 minutes after a meal just to help get the digestive juices flowing.
Diet changes. When seniors eat a certain way for a while, their guts adapt and they may find they are more regular. However, if they’re adding more fiber into their diet, at first things within their gut can be slow. The microbiome (gut flora) takes time to adapt to the newer diet, resulting in constipation. Increasing foods that are easier to digest and fiber is great for health, though. So be patient during this process.
Medications. Painkillers, antacids, and iron supplements have been known to cause constipation.
Chronic health issues. If your senior has Parkinson’s disease or has had a stroke, they may suffer from constipation, as well. The muscles are usually less effective around our senior patient’s intestinal tract which can prevent food waste from moving along.
Prevention of Constipation in Seniors
Get physical activity. Just as a sedentary lifestyle can lead to constipation in seniors, regular exercise relieves it. When seniors move their bodies, they activate the muscles surrounding their digestive tract which helps support regular bowel movements.
Fall in love with fiber. Fiber can cause bloating, gas, and constipation in the beginning. However, when our senior loved ones keep up their higher fiber intake, sooner than later their gut flora will adapt and find these new foods easier to digest. Check-in with your senior’s doctor to determine just how much fiber they should be getting, but we recommend an intake of at least 30 grams.
Check food labels or use apps like Cronometer to see just how much fiber your senior is ingesting. Note: vegetables and fruit, as well as whole grains, can greatly support this recommended intake.
Also note, the more fiber our senior consumes must go hand-in-hand with water. Fiber pulls water from the intestines. Without enough water, food waste cannot pass and we find our seniors back to the same problem: constipation. Have your aging loved one get at least 2 liters of water a day.
Avoid hard-to-digest foods. These foods may be your senior’s favorite, but try to avoid their intake of dairy products, alcohol, processed foods, and high salt intake. All of these items can wreak havoc on your senior’s digestive health.
Treatment of Constipation in Seniors
Speak to your doctor. First and foremost, speak with your senior’s doctor if they’re experiencing constipation often. If diet changes alone can’t fix the issue, there may be an underlining issue that will need to be addressed.
Try probiotics and prebiotics. Probiotics come as pills or in fermented foods which contain millions of good bacteria. It may be that your senior isn’t building a healthy amount of good bacteria in their gut, so adding a probiotic can greatly help. To help feed these good bacteria, try to add more prebiotics into their diet. Prebiotics can be found in leafy greens like arugula, spinach, lettuce, kale, or other dark green vegetables.
Over-the-counter laxatives. We don’t recommend laxatives as the first choice, but if there’s a dire need, get your senior something to help relieve them fast. Try to not rely on these laxatives as they can cause dehydration and are truly a temporary fix, not a cure-all. Again, speak with their doctor if constipation seems to be happening too often.
Seniors often experience constipation or struggle to pass a bowel movement in general. There are many factors involved that could cause constipation, but it’s also quite preventable. Once you and your aging loved one find the right method to improve regularity, try to sustain it.
With the right attitude and falling in love with new and gut-healthy foods, your senior can enjoy good digestive health as they age.
For more information on relieving constipation in seniors, speak with their doctor.
You can also contact us for more tips.
We’re here to help!
Legal Disclaimer
This blog provides general information and discussions about understanding constipation in the elderly and should not be construed as medical advice.
