How do I change sheets when someone cannot get out of bed?
Sheets can often be changed by rolling the person gently from side to side, but ask for help if movement causes pain or feels unsafe.
Sheets can often be changed by rolling the person gently from side to side, but ask for help if movement causes pain or feels unsafe. A nurse or care worker can show you a safer method for the person's body, bed and symptoms.
Do not injure yourself trying to do this alone. Caring for someone in bed can be physically hard.
General information: This page gives general information for people in Australia. It cannot tell you exactly what is happening in one person's situation. If you have concerns about a symptom, medicine, treatment decision or change in someone's condition, contact their doctor, palliative care team, nurse or other treating health professional.
Before you start
Gather what you need first:
- clean sheets
- absorbent bed pads if used
- continence products if needed
- wipes or cloths
- gloves
- a bag for soiled linen
- pillows for support.
Ask whether a slide sheet, draw sheet or hospital bed is available. These can make care safer.
A common rolling method
Explain what you are doing. Help the person roll gently to one side if they can. If they cannot help, ask another adult or a nurse to assist.
Roll the dirty sheet inward towards the person's back. Place the clean sheet on the open side of the bed, with half of it rolled or folded near the person's back.
Help the person roll back over the rolled sheets onto the clean side. Remove the dirty sheet from the other side and pull the clean sheet through. Smooth wrinkles gently, as wrinkles can irritate skin.
This is general advice. Follow the method shown by the care team for that person.
If the person has pain or breathlessness
Pause if the person grimaces, moans, becomes breathless, stiffens, or asks you to stop. Ask whether pain or breathlessness medicine should be timed before care, if it is already in the person's plan.
Sometimes a smaller clean-up is better than a full sheet change. The aim is comfort and dignity, not making the bed perfect.
Protecting skin
Wet or wrinkled bedding can damage fragile skin. Change wet pads when practical, use barrier cream if advised, and check pressure areas such as the bottom, hips, heels, elbows and shoulders.
Do not rub fragile skin hard. Pat dry where possible.
When to ask for more help
Ask for help if:
- the person is heavy or hard to move
- turning causes pain or breathlessness
- the person is agitated or unsafe
- there are pressure sores or broken skin
- you are exhausted or injured
- the bed setup makes care difficult.
The team may arrange equipment, personal care support, respite, or a different plan.
When to get help now
Contact the palliative care team, GP, nurse or aged care staff if the person has pain during care, skin breakdown, bleeding, severe breathlessness, agitation, a fall, or if you cannot manage safely.
Call 000 if there is a sudden life-threatening emergency and no end-of-life plan telling you what to do.
You may also want to read
- How do I manage toileting when someone can no longer get out of bed?
- Why does someone who is dying become incontinent?
- How often should I turn someone who is dying in bed?
- Do I need to keep turning someone if moving them causes pain?