Bowel routine is the topic nobody volunteers for and every clinician asks about. A one-line-per-event log answers in seconds, catches medication problems early, and spares your parent the repeat interrogation at every appointment.
Care teams will ask for the type number. Print this with the log so whoever is on shift does not have to guess.
| Type | Looks like | Reads as |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Separate hard lumps, like nuts | Constipation — straining likely |
| 2 | Lumpy sausage | Mild constipation |
| 3 | Sausage with cracks | Normal |
| 4 | Smooth soft sausage | Ideal |
| 5 | Soft blobs, clear edges | Lacking fiber — trending loose |
| 6 | Mushy pieces, ragged edges | Mild diarrhea |
| 7 | Liquid, no solid pieces | Diarrhea — watch fluids, note meds |
| Column | What goes in it |
|---|---|
| Date / time | Every event, including accidents at night. |
| Bristol type (1–7) | The number only. The chart above does the describing. |
| Amount | Small / normal / large. Approximate is fine. |
| Straining / pain / accidents | Yes or no — this is what flags impaction risk. |
| Meds given | Laxative or softener with the dose and time, so two shifts never double-dose. |
| Fluids & food notes | Rough fluid intake and whether they ate. Type 1 for a week with low fluids is a fixable pattern, not a mystery. |
Anywhere from three times a day to three times a week can be a normal personal rhythm. The flag is change from their baseline — which you only know once the log exists. If your parent has dementia, note that hiding or hoarding soiled items is common; check quietly rather than taking "no" as an answer.
Do not wait for the next appointment for these — call the doctor's line and read from the log. It is exactly the summary they need.