End of life bowel movements. Any advice?

thank you for your input. no complaints. not constipated yes he knows she is not eating. he says the suppository will work better. I hope I have made the right decision to try hospice. she has lived with me for 10 years,and I am the only one to go down this end of life journey. I am lucky that I know so much about her life. she had 24 brothers and sisters and she is the last. thank all of you for your input

If she will drink, warm prune juice ought to move things along.

The nurses should be listening for bowel sounds and could check whether the rectum is full with a well lubricated, gloved finger. It's not that big a deal to administer a suppository, if there is nothing there nothing will happen. If this is something that would cause a lot of distress to your mother then I can't see any reason to not try an oral laxative first.

>>How can there be much in the way of bowel movement when there is no real intake?<<

There could be intestinal blockage. A couple signs are bloat and lack of stomach sounds when listening with a stethoscope. A severe case might be given both a suppository and (ugh) milk-of-magnesia by mouth (my wife): very severe might involve physically reaming it out (my sister).

Wow, 99 years old!

Is your mom complaining about any discomfort? Is she constipated? Has a nurse physically examined her? What reason are they giving you for wanting to give her a suppository. Do they know she is eating so little?