What You Will Need
Disposable medical gloves (latex, nitrile rubber, etc.)
A clean adult diaper
A plastic grocery bag
Pre-moistened wipes (such as baby wipes or wet wipes) or skin cleanser and disposable cloths
Barrier cream
Wash and dry your hands thoroughly and put on a pair of disposable medical gloves.
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If the patient’s bed is adjustable, raise the entire bed to a comfortable height (usually slightly lower than your hips). Lower the head of the bed as far down to horizontal as your loved one can tolerate.
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With the patient resting on his or her back, unfasten the straps, Velcro or adhesive tape of the adult diaper and then tuck the side farthest from you under your loved one’s hip.
With one hand on the patient’s hip and the other on their shoulder, roll your loved one away from you onto his or her side. You might find this easier with the help of another able-bodied person, who can then hold the patient on his or her side while you work.
- If you tucked the diaper far enough under his or her hip, you should now be able to pull the adult diaper toward you and out from under your loved one.
Roll the used diaper inward as you remove it to contain any mess.
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Place the soiled adult diaper into a plastic grocery bag for disposal (but do not seal the bag yet).
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Using pre-moistened wipes, or skin cleanser and disposable cloths, clean your loved one’s diaper area, front and back, as thoroughly as possible.
Avoid pressing or rubbing the skin too hard. You might need to roll your loved one onto his or her back or other side to thoroughly clean areas you cannot reach. Place used wipes or cloths in the plastic grocery bag.
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With your loved one still on his or her side, check the skin for pressure sores, which are also known as bedsores or pressure ulcers. It is important to check the skin daily for any early signs that a pressure sore has begun.
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Apply barrier cream to the patient’s perineum to moisturize and protect the skin.
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After allowing the patient’s skin to thoroughly dry, roll up one side of the new adult diaper and tuck it under your loved one’s side. Flatten and position the rest of the diaper on the bed.
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Roll your loved one back toward you onto the diaper and then pull out the rolled up side of the diaper. Remove any wrinkles and fasten the adult diaper as directed by the manufacturer. Again, this process is easier with two people.
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Remove your disposable medical gloves and place them in the plastic grocery bag before tying it closed.
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Wash and dry your hands thoroughly.
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If the patient’s bed is adjustable, return it to the desired height and raise the head of the bed to the desired level.
Cover your loved one with a clean sheet or blanket(s) if desired.
- Finally, make sure you understand how to properly position a bed-bound patient. This can help prevent the development of bedsores and keep your loved one more comfortable.