Instructions for bathing
• Provide privacy during bathing.
• Dry the skin after bath gently with a soft towel.
• Oil the skin with cream, body oil, lanolin or vegetable oil.
• Use plastic sheets under the bed sheets to keep the bed dry when one
cannot control urine or faeces.
• Massage the back and hips, elbows, ankles with petroleum jelly.
• If there is leakage of urine or stool, protect skin with petroleum jelly
applied around private parts, back, hips, ankles and elbows.
• Support the sick person over the container when passing urine or
stool, so as to avoid wetting the bed and injury.
To prevent pain, stiff ness and contractures in muscles
and joints
(usually 3-4 times daily).
Prevent bedsores in all bedridden patients
Remember that prevention of bedsores is better than cure, therefore:
• Help the bedridden patient to sit out in a chair from time to time if
possible.
• Lift the sick person up the
bed—do not drag as it breaks
the skin.
• Encourage the sick person to
move his or her body in bed
if able.
• Change the sick person’s
position on the bed often, if
possible every one or two hours—use pillows or
cushions to keep the position.
• Keep the beddings clean and dry.
• Look for damaged skin (change of colour) on the
back, shoulders and hips every day.
• Put extra soft material such as a soft cotton towel
under the sick person.