Constipation is easy to overlook in dementia care, but it should not be treated as a minor issue. People living with Alzheimer’s often experience changes in bowel habits, including constipation, and these changes may be related to diet, dehydration, medications, or other medical problems. In some dementia-related conditions, constipation can also worsen behavioral changes and confusion.
The challenge is that a person living with dementia may not say, ‘I’m constipated.’ What families and staff may notice instead is pacing, refusal, irritability, restlessness, facial tension, reduced appetite, trouble sitting comfortably, or a general sense that the person is not themselves.
Person-centered care reminds us to look underneath the behavior. Sometimes the real question is not how to stop the behavior, but what physical discomfort may be driving it.
Practical first steps include supporting fiber intake when appropriate, paying attention to hydration, encouraging movement such as walking when possible, and letting the health care provider know about changes in bowel habits. These are simple interventions, but they can make a meaningful difference when discomfort is contributing to distress.
This is another example of why dementia care training must include more than communication tips alone. Teams need to understand how pain, constipation, dehydration, infection, and medication effects can show up as behavior change. NCCDP’s training framework emphasizes compassionate communication, behavioral expressions, activities of daily living, and whole-person care.
Suggested NCCDP Links
- Understanding Person-Centered Dementia Care
- ADDC Seminar
- What Does a Certified Dementia Practitioner Do?
