Understanding bowel problems in older people: Part 2.

Bowel problems can be devastating for patients and those who care for them. Accurate assessment is essential in determining the cause of symptoms and deciding treatment and management strategies. Treatment can be complex, but with care and patience improvement or cure is possible. Part 1 of this two-part article offered an overview of bowel problems in older people and an introduction to assessment. Part 2 discusses specific components of assessment, treatment and management.