Is Constipation a Nursing or Dietary concern?
 
Constipation is a common problem for residents in LTC facilities. So common that some research indicates that as many as 50% of nursing home residents experience constipation at some point during their stay and that 50-74% of nursing home residents use laxatives on a daily basis. Constipation is the most prevalent digestive complaint in elderly populations in the community, as well as in institutional care settings. Studies have found that in the older person, constipation is associated with a decline in the quality of life, a decrease in functional ability, increased pain, dysuria, and fecal incontinence. According to the American Dietetic Association, it is also "a frequently overlooked nutrition impact symptom." In addition to the nursing assessment, screening for constipation should be included as part of the overall nutrition assessment.
 
Possible nutritional indicators of constipation include the following:
·  poor appetite with complaints of fullness after eating small amounts
·  nausea or vomiting
·  weight loss
·  excess flatus
 
The initial step in the treatment of constipation is appropriate medical management of any underlying disease or cause.The basic management of constipation includes:
a) adequate fluid intake
b) bulking agents or additional fiber
c) toileting
d) exercise
 
The attached article is an excellent resource on constipation including definitions, dietary interventions and medications used to treat constipation.