Old people + constipation = a mess!

[MissCommando]

I've been a care assistant for a few years now and have noticed how many old people (some with dementia, some without) 'perform manuals on themselves'. This is the term staff in work use.

I can't understand how people can rummage around their back passage! Is it something that these old people would have always done?

It's the one thing in my job I find hard to deal with and it always makes me heave when residents have poo all over their fingers!

Do you think it's something the older generation have always done or is it something everyone will do when they're older and having trouble?

[Pea Pod]

When I was in hospital 30 years ago a nurse in the toilet next to me was telling a Lady to do this. You are now suffering the after effects if this has been common practice.

[MissCommando]

Thank you Pea Pod - that makes sense.

You wouldn't hear nurses nowadays to do this!

[anneasquith]

miss c, i assume you choose to work with the elderly, with or without dementia. do you think it is appropriate to describe them , have all their marbles ........lost their marbles,?

[anneasquith]

and if you are "interested " why not ask a trained member of staff. who you work with.

[momac]

I used to care for geriatrics...we always referred to it as manuals,but as for them doing it themselves,I have never witnessed that and I was there for ten years, but a lot of old people get obsessed with their bowels,guess it's just one of the quirks of old age.

[boxtops]

We had a presentation about Medication in the Elderly at work last week, and although I know it doesn't apply in this case, I was interested to hear about polypharmacy - I know some people suffer with multiple ailments therefore are on several drugs, but the complexity of the interactions between a cocktail of meds is scary Added to which the speaker said that many older people take a laxative daily because when they were little they were told they have to go every day - no, we don't - and complicate the matter with up to four over the counter medicines on top of their prescription drugs, which they forget to mention to the prescribing GP. I don't wonder that the slightly or very confused just lose the plot over their medications.

[Eastender]

I have been a care assistant for many a year, and have seen plenty of residents in various homes do this. They seem to get obsessed by their bowel movements. And anne dont be so harsh on us, not many people would do this job !!!!

[anneasquith]

eastender, i admire anyone who works in this field, but i dont think describing any elderly patient who may or not have dementia being described in the way they were. no wish to offend any carer,

[beejaybee]

I wont go into my medical details but I`ve had to do this on myself. During my dad`s last few months my mum did this daily for him.

[beejaybee]

I forgot to say that I`m not old .