Identifying and managing constipation in older people

Lee, Amanda

Abstract

Constipation is a major problem in residential care. It is a condition which, if left untreated, can result in major distress and health problems for sufferers. If the condition is not detected early, then resultant interventions become increasingly complex and costly, meaning staff spend time and resources managing what could have been, a simple problem. This paper seeks to define and identify the main causes of constipation in residential care settings. It evaluates lifestyle approaches to prevention which are relevant to residential care and provides information on early detection and strategies to manage the condition. Finally, a ‘red flag’ table is identified which will support carers and nurses to identify how constipation may be an early warning sign for more complex health conditions.

Citation

Lee, A. (2016). Identifying and managing constipation in older people. Nursing and Residential Care, 18(7), 366-368. https://doi.org/10.12968/nrec.2016.18.7.366

• Acceptance Date: Feb 1, 2016
• Publication Date: Jul 2, 2016
• Deposit Date: Jun 9, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 2, 2016
• Journal: Nursing & residential care
• Print ISSN: 1465-9301
• Electronic ISSN: 2052-2932
• Publisher: MA Healthcare
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 18
• Issue: 7
• Pages: 366-368
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.12968/nrec.2016.18.7.366
• Keywords: Constipation
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/439352
• Publisher URL: http://www.magonlinelibrary.com/doi/pdf/10.12968/nrec.2016.18.7.366
• Additional Information: Authors' accepted manuscript of a Published Work that appeared in final form in: Nursing & residential care, 2016, v.18 issue 7. copyright © MA Healthcare, after peer review and technical editing by the publisher. To access the final edited and published work see http://www.magonlinelibrary.com/doi/pdf/10.12968/nrec.2016.18.7.366.