gastrointestinal disorders
Constipation
Geriatrics Essentials
Constipation is common among older people because of low-fiber diets, lack of exercise, coexisting medical conditions, and use of constipating drugs. Many older people have misconceptions about normal bowel habits and use laxatives regularly. Other changes that predispose older people to constipation include increased rectal compliance and impaired rectal sensation (such that larger rectal volumes are needed to elicit the desire to defecate). 