Washing and changing a bedridden person, step by step

Prepare before you start

Everything within reach before uncovering the person: gloves, Nateen adult wipes or warm water and a soap-free cleanser at skin pH, soft towel, barrier cream, new product unfolded in the right size, Mati underpad, bag for the used one. Warm room, door closed, bed raised to hip height to protect your back.

Say what you are going to do, even if the person does not answer. Uncover only the part of the body concerned, the rest covered by a sheet: dignity and warmth matter as much as cleanliness.

1Mati underpad on the sheet, full width, flaps tucked

2Turn onto the side, towards you: one hand on the shoulder, one on the hip

3Rolled towel between the knees, pillow behind the back

4Remove the folded used brief, clean front to back

5Pat dry, thin layer of barrier cream

6Fresh brief half rolled: back panel flat against the back and buttocks, tabs pointing up, the rolled half under the hip

7Roll gently onto the back, over the rolled half

8Unroll the part passed under the person, adjust both sides

9Lift the front panel over the belly, barriers in the groin

10Fasten the four tabs one by one, from the back onto the front, at belly level

11Centre, adjust, two fingers at the waist, look at the skin

Full screen

Eleven steps, always in the same order

One: the Mati underpad on the sheet, across the full width of the bed, flaps tucked under the mattress. Two: turn the person onto their side, towards you, one hand on the shoulder and the other on the hip, knees bent. Three: a rolled towel between the knees and a pillow behind the back so the position holds without effort.

Four: undo and fold the used brief inwards, remove it from behind, then clean front to back, one wipe per stroke, folds included. Five: pat dry and apply a thin layer of barrier cream on exposed areas.

Six: slide the fresh opened brief between the legs, front to back. Seven: place the back panel first against the buttocks, raised above the waist, the other half rolled under the hip. Eight: gently roll the person onto their back. Nine: unroll the other half and lift the front panel over the belly, barriers in the groin fold.

Ten: fasten the four tabs one by one. They start on the back panel, wrap around the hip and stick onto the front panel at belly level, angled slightly upward; the lower ones a little tighter than the upper ones. Eleven: centre, adjust, check that two fingers fit at the waist, and look at the skin.

After

Look at the skin at every change: sacrum, hips, groin folds, under the belly. Redness spotted early settles in a few days. Barrier cream in a thin layer on exposed areas only: thick, it clogs the product.

Fold the used product onto itself, fold the tabs over to close it, tie the bag. Wash your hands before and after, even with gloves. Note the time and the state of the skin if several people take turns.

A full bed bath

Once the brief is changed, a full bed bath follows the same principle: one part of the body uncovered at a time, the rest under the sheet, a Mati underpad under the area being washed to protect the bed. Go from cleanest to least clean: face, neck and arms, then chest and back with the person turned on their side, legs and feet, and the perineal area last with wipes or a fresh cloth.

Warm water, a soap-free cleanser at skin pH, pat dry without rubbing, taking care in the folds. Change the underpad as soon as it is damp, reapply barrier cream on exposed areas, and finish with a clean brief and the sheet pulled up. Talk during the bath: saying what you are doing reassures and preserves dignity.

From bed to wheelchair

Prepare the transfer before you start: wheelchair braked, footrests up, placed on the person's stronger side, a Mati underpad laid on the seat to protect the chair and reassure. Sit the person on the edge of the bed, feet flat, and give them time to find their balance. Then, knees bent, back straight, one hand under each arm or a transfer belt, pivot together toward the chair without lifting at arm's length.

A well-fastened brief and an underpad on the seat allow several hours in the chair without worry. If the person cannot help, or if you have any doubt about your back, do not transfer alone: ask for a second person or a hoist. These are general gestures; the care team adapts the technique to each situation.

When to change

Immediately after stool, always. For urine, as soon as the wetness indicator has turned along its whole length or the product feels heavy, and at least in the morning, afternoon and at bedtime. A Nateen product is built to last several hours: changing too early does not help the skin, changing too late damages it.

If the person is heavy or very stiff, get help: two caregivers, one on each side, and the bed at the right height. Never leave someone on their side without a rail or a hand on them.