Making a Bed while Someone is Lying On It

Outside the context of assisted living Omaha residents, there are so many simple tasks that we take for granted, like making a bed, for example. We are used to just waking up each morning and making our own beds, the task taking about half a minute.

When you’re caring for the elderly, a problem that is likely to come up is needing to make a bed while someone is still lying on it.

How can you ensure the person’s comfort throughout the process? The method that creates the least disturbance involves rolling the person to their side, then loosening the soiled linens on the vacated side of the bed and bunching them up into a small hump along the middle of the bed.

Then, spread the fresh linens on the vacated half of the bed, joining the rest of the fabric with the hump. Roll the person over the hump of fabric to the side with the fresh linens. Remove the soiled linens from the newly-vacated half of the bed and spread the rest of the fresh linens over it.  Replace the pillowcases and blankets as well.

Make sure to offer support to the person throughout the entire process, and always be aware of any catheters or any sort of equipment that may get caught while you’re changing the sheets. For more extensive assistance, call 402-671-0448.