How to wash a bedridden person: effective solutions for daily care

It not only prevents infections and skin irritations, but also maintains the dignity and psychological comfort of a person. At home, caring for a patient who cannot get up on his own requires special organization and special tools. 

In this article, we will tell you how to properly and safely wash a bedridden person, maintaining complete hygiene of the body, head, teeth, and bed linen. For the convenience of caregivers, it is important to have useful products for bedridden patients at home that greatly help in everyday life.

Washing the body of bedridden patients: what you need to know

To wash a bedridden person, you need to prepare everything you need in advance:

• warm water in a basin or bucket;

• soft sponge or napkins;

• towels;

• hypoallergenic soap or foam;

• waterproof sheet or oilcloth to protect bed from moisture.

The washing procedure begins with the upper body - face, neck, arms - and gradually moves to the torso, legs and intimate area. Each area must be washed separately, then thoroughly wiped with a towel to prevent irritation. Particular attention should be paid to skin folds, armpits, areas under the breasts and between the fingers.

Tip: if the patient has impaired control over urination or defecation, be sure to use a special vessel and cleanse the body of residual biological fluids after each bowel movement.

How to wash the head of a bedridden patient

Washing the head - one of the most difficult tasks when caring for a bedridden person. To do this conveniently and safely, you should use such a simple but extremely effective aid as an inflatable bathtub for washing your hair. It allows you to wash your hair without the need to transplant a person or carry them to the bathroom.

The inflatable bathtub is installed directly on the pillow – it has a special shape that forms a recess for the head and neck. After pouring warm water, you can gently wet your hair, apply shampoo, rinse off the foam and dry your head with a towel. The water drains through the built-in hose or hole in the bathtub.

This device is especially convenient for caring for people after a stroke, with fractures, oncological or neurodegenerative diseases.

Oral care for bedridden patients

Even if a person cannot brush their teeth on their own, this procedure should not be ignored. Daily oral hygiene prevents the development of caries, fungal infections and gingivitis.

What you need for care:

• A soft toothbrush or gauze pad;

• A glass of water;

• Toothpaste and/or mouthwash.

The patient should be turned on his side or placed in a semi-sitting position to avoid swallowing the liquid. Carefully clean the teeth, gums and tongue. In cases where a regular brush is inconvenient, you can use special disposable oral hygiene wipes or cotton swabs.

Additional tools for convenient care of bedridden patients

To maintain cleanliness and dryness of bed linen, you can buy a medical waterproof sheet - it protects the mattress from dirt and moisture, is easy to change and wash. Also, do not forget about the medical underpad, which will facilitate care for patients who cannot move. Depending on your needs, you can choose a classic plastic underpad or a model with a soft edge for greater comfort.

If you need to wash a completely bedridden patient at home, an inflatable bathtub for the disabled is used. It allows you to fully wash a bedridden patient without getting out of bed. The bathtub is easy to install, fills with water and has a drain system. We also remind you of the importance of using anti-decubitus mattresses, which significantly reduce the risk of bedsores in people who lie down for a long time or stay in one position in bed for a long time.

Caring for a bedridden person is a daily job that requires patience, attention and proper equipment. Using such tools as an inflatable bathtub for washing the head, waterproof sheets, vessels and other hygiene products for seriously ill patients, you will greatly facilitate the care process for yourself, and provide the patient with comfort and a sense of dignity. 

In our online store of rehabilitation products MED1 you will find all the necessary ide products for quality care at home. You can count on fast delivery of your order across Ukraine, advisory support and warranty for our brand's products.