This article focuses on how to change diapers on a bed ridden person. I am a paid caregiver and was terrified of my first experience of changing an adult diaper that contained a bowel movement. There are many people who do not complete the task correctly, thus causing bed sores, rashes and pain to the patient. There is a way to complete the job giving dignity to the patient and also giving them the best possible care. If the patient is coherent, you will especially want to complete this task quickly to avoid frustration by the patient. The skin can be a very big problem on a bed ridden patient. If you don’t change the diaper in a timely manner or you change the diaper in a way that irritates the skin, the results are bed sores which can lead to infection and ultimately death.
The first task is to make sure you have all the equipment necessary to get the job done in a fast and orderly manner. The items you will need to have on hand are the right size adult diapers with velcro tabs, a cotton hospital pad that fits under the diaper, moist towelettes, fresh linens for the bed, a clean gown, moisturizing cream, latex gloves, and a large garbage bag.
The first thing you do before every changing is to put on your latex gloves. This keeps you from contracting any sickness that your patient may have. Next, undo the tabs on each side of the diaper. The diaper cannot be pull ups, as they are extremely difficult to get on and off a patient. It also helps that the patient has a hospital gown on with the opening in the front for easy access to the diaper. After you undo the velcro tabs, you roll the gown up as far as it will go and then proceed to roll the patient over on their side away from you. You never move a patient by their shoulders, arms or any other place but the hips. You could cause severe injury otherwise. Once the patient is rolled over on their side, you start wiping the soiled area with moist towelettes until completely clean. This usually means you have to roll the patient on their back, hold their knees up, and continue wiping until all of the bowel movement is gone. Have your garbage bag open next to you so you can continue to throw the towelettes away as you work. In most cases you will use many towelettes for one bowel movement. When you are finished wiping, the patient is then rolled back on their side away from you. Place a fresh linen under the patient if the bedding is soiled, then place the hospital pad under the patient. When placing the pad under the patient, you roll up one side of the pad and place it directly under the patients bottom so it will be easy to reach when you roll the patient on their back. You then apply the moisturizing cream on the patient’s skin and then the adult diaper under their bottom. Proceed to roll the patient over on their other side towards you, and flatten out the hospital pad and make sure the diaper is nice and smooth over the patients skin. This smoothness is the most important part of changing the diaper. If you have any wrinkles in the pad or the diaper, bed sores can develop. Fasten the velcro tabs on the diaper again smoothing out any wrinkles that occur and pull the hospital gown gently down in place. Cover the patient with blankets, making sure the patient is in the middle of the bed to prevent them from falling out onto the floor. Take your garbage bag out to an outside trash can, put soiled linens in the wash machine immediately and then remove and throw away your latex gloves. It is extremely important your gloves are removed after the job is completely finished. Once you throw away your gloves, wash your hands with warm, soapy water.
I hope this step by step article helps those who are taking care of their loved ones at home and have the job of keeping the patient comfortable and clean. The gift you are giving them of dignity and selflessness is something that can’t be put into words. You will never regret your job as a paid caregiver and the fulfillment you will receive helping a patient at the end their life with dignity is something you will always take with you.
