Night notes
How to change a bed pad with someone in bed
Changing an underpad without getting the person out of bed is a skill nurses learn early. With a strong pad and the roll technique, one or two caregivers can do it in a few minutes.
Before you start
- Put on disposable gloves
- Have the new pad, wipes and a trash bag within reach
- Raise the bed to waist height if it is adjustable and lower the near rail
- Tell the person what you are about to do
The roll method
- Roll the person onto their side, facing away from you
- Roll the used pad toward their back, soiled side inward
- Clean and dry the skin
- Lay the new pad half flat and half rolled up against the old one
- Roll the person back over both rolls and onto their other side
- Pull the old pad out and unroll the new one flat
- Roll them onto their back and smooth out any wrinkles
Using the pad to reposition
People in bed slide toward the foot over time. Instead of lifting, two caregivers stand on either side, grip the edges of a strong underpad near the shoulders and hips, and slide the person up together on a count of three. The pad must be rated for it: Chucks MAX and MAX+ backings are rated for repositioning adults up to 400 lb. Standard thin pads can tear.
Protecting the skin
Change wet pads promptly, keep the skin clean and dry and avoid wrinkles under the body, which press on the skin. Ask a nurse about barrier cream and turning schedules for someone who spends most of the day in bed. This guide is general information, not medical advice.
