Caregiving Help Library
Making a Bed
Continued
Here's what you'll need to make the bed (in the order that they will be put on):
1. Bottom sheet
2. Absorbent pad
3. Draw sheet - this goes across the width of the bed - so the long ends hang down across the sides of the bed towards the floor. When making the bed - tuck the sides in.
4. Top sheet
5. Blanket
6. Bedspread, coverlet, quilt
Try to keep the patient covered and warm while you are changing the bed. If the top covers are tucked in, untuck them.
If the patient can move - have them scoot over towards the edge of the bed. If they need help moving - untuck the draw sheet from the opposite side of the bed and use it to roll the patient toward you. - go to the other side of the bed. Untuck the bottom sheet, roll it, the absorbent pad and the draw sheet toward the patient's back. Put the clean bottom sheet on the bed, position the absorbent pad and the clean draw sheet. Tuck in the draw sheet. Take the excess clean linen and roll it towards you. There should be 2 rolls side by side - dirty linen & clean linen.
Have the patient roll over onto the clean linen, use the draw sheet if you need to. Strip the dirty sheets off the other half of the bed & finish making the bed. Put a clean top sheet and blanket over the patient - try to do this without uncovering the patient - you can do it with a little practice. Tuck in the top covers - or not, as the patient wishes.
There are a couple of reasons for changing the sheets - they are soiled (& so is the patient), it's just time for the bed to be changed. If the patient requires personal care - do it before you change the sheets & put a dry pad under them.
Change sheets whenever it is necessary - some days it might be several times.
Stay calm. Think about how you would feel if you were the patient.
If you can't stay calm because you are tired and irritable and you just want a night's unbroken sleep - do what you have to do in silence.
If the bed has siderails - use them.
Never leave someone in a half made bed to answer the phone or the door or anything else.
If you've never made a bed with someone in it - practice, practice, practice. Practice being the patient in the bed too - let your friend make the bed with you in it. Practice being belligerent and hard to get along with and watch your friends face, as she tries to change your bed. There are two points of view here - the one in the bed and the one standing beside the bed. Don't expect that because you have the knowledge that you can control the emotions. Try to let them bounce off you even though you want to throw up your hands and walk away. Caregiving is difficult. I thank God there are so many of you giving care.
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