This information is sourced from Marie Curie:
Giving someone a bed bath can take time. Do prepare all you need and ensure the person is comfortable and the room is warm and private.
To give a bed bath it helps to be familiar with how to move someone in bed.
Top tips
- Make sure your hands are warm
- Talk as you go along about what you are doing
- Check the person is comfortable - is any pain relief needed before the wash?
- Cover any parts of the body that are not being washed with towels or bedding
- Use different clean flannels for washing the top and bottom half of the body
- Rinse off soap well and change the water several times
- Dry skin well after the wash. If skin is fragile or sore, gently pat it dry
- Disposable wet wipes and dry shampoo may be helpful
Items to prepare
- A flat surface to work from
- A bowl with warm water
- Clean warm towels to dry and to put beneath or to cover them
- Soap, moisturiser, and any other favourite toiletries
- At least 2 clean flannels, one for the face and upper body and another for the bottom half of the body
- Personal hygiene products such as disposable pads and wipes if required
- Shaving equipment
- Clean clothing like underwear and fresh pyjamas or nightie
- Clean bedding if you need to change the sheets
Face (including shaving) and hands
- The person you care for may be able to wash their own face and hands or you can do this for them
- Use only warm water or a very mild soap for the face
- Shaving someone who cannot shave themselves - cover the chest and shoulders with a towel. If they use an electric razor, press the razor firmly against the skin using circular motions. Otherwise, keep the skin taut and shave in short strokes in a downwards direction, from the cheeks to the neck. Best to sit up for shaving if they can.
Upper part of the body
- Gently start at the person’s neck and shoulders and wash their chest, working your way down to the waist
- If they can sit up, ask them to bend forwards so you can wash and dry their back. If they can’t sit up, you’ll need to gently move them on to their side to wash their back
- Once you’ve washed and dried their upper body you can help them to put on fresh clothes
- You can also apply moisturising cream to any dry areas such as the elbows
Lower part of the body
- Change the water in the bowl before you start
- Using a second flannel, wash and dry their legs and feet one at a time. Place a towel under the leg you’re washing to stop the bed getting wet
- Your friend or family member may prefer some privacy to wash their bottom and between their legs themselves. You can arrange the towels and bedding so they are not exposed. If they’re not able to wash themselves, you’ll need to help them roll onto their side to clean themselves. Take care to wash off all the soap
- Pat the skin gently in sensitive areas, making sure you dry all the skin folds
- You can then help them put on fresh clothes and apply moisturising cream to dry areas like the feet
Please see this 3 minute video from Marie Curie showing how to help someone to wash