Moving someone in bed

Changing position regularly can help someone to feel more comfortable and prevent pressure sores.

If you regularly lift or move someone, it's best to have someone demonstrate the correct way to avoid injury to yourself or the person you are looking after.

The district nurse, GP or occupational therapist can give information about suitable equipment.

You might find it helpful to ask about:

  • bed guards and rails
  • electric or adjustable 'hospital' beds to help someone sit up
  • ‘active’ air mattresses with air pockets that inflate and deflate to help prevent pressure ulcers

A Carer's assessment from social services can help you think about what support you might need.

Your local Citizen's Advice can guide what practical and financial support you can access. Please see our Service Directory for contact details of your local Citizens Advice Office.

The video below shows you how to use an electric bed as an aid, how to turn someone onto their side to wash them or to change bedding or pads, and how to adjust the pillows.

Recommended Resources

Marie Curie - Moving someone in bed

Published 26th October 2023

NHS - How to move, lift and handle someone else

Published 26th October 2023

Hospice in the Weald - Online guides

Published 26th October 2023

Share

Related Services

Adult Social Care
Close

Adult Social Care provides practical support to people to stay safe and well in Westminster, Kensington and Chelsea.

These services are usually provided in people's homes, care homes or in the community. Thre is also support for people who are caring for an adult family member or friend, access to personal care and home care services.

Adult Social Care Brent
Close

Adult Social Care provides practical support to people to stay safe and well.  These services are usually provided in people's homes, care homes or in the community. Thre is also support for people who are caring for an adult family member or friend, access to personal care and home care services.

Adult Social Care Ealing
Close

Adult Social Care provides practical support to people to stay safe and well.  These services are usually provided in people's homes, care homes or in the community. Thre is also support for people who are caring for an adult family member or friend, access to personal care and home care services.

Adult Social Care Hammersmith and Fulham
Close

Adult Social Care provides practical support to people to stay safe and well.  These services are usually provided in people's homes, care homes or in the community. Thre is also support for people who are caring for an adult family member or friend, access to personal care and home care services.

Adult Social Care Harrow
Close

Adult Social Care provides practical support to people to stay safe and well.  These services are usually provided in people's homes, care homes or in the community. Thre is also support for people who are caring for an adult family member or friend, access to personal care and home care services.

Adult Social Care Hillingdon
Close

Adult Social Care provides practical support to people to stay safe and well.  These services are usually provided in people's homes, care homes or in the community. Thre is also support for people who are caring for an adult family member or friend, access to personal care and home care services.

Adult Social Care Hounslow
Close

Adult Social Care provides practical support to people to stay safe and well.  These services are usually provided in people's homes, care homes or in the community. Thre is also support for people who are caring for an adult family member or friend, access to personal care and home care services.

Brent Carers Centre
Close

Brent Carers Centre deliver a whole range of support services to address the social, emotional and financial issues that carers experience.

Care Place
Close

London Borough of Hounslow publishes a regular factsheet called Information for Carers. It lists local, national and council services, voluntary organisations and other sources of advice and support that may be useful if you look after someone as an unpaid carer.

Carers Network
Close

Carers Network is an independent local charity reaching over 5,300 unpaid carers in the most isolated and deprived pockets of the City of Westminster, the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. We have been proudly supporting carers in central London since 1991.

There is help for new carers and a carer's assessment to discuss how to maintain your health and balance your caring responsibilities with other areas of your life. It may also help you get financial support.

Carers Trust Hillingdon
Close

Carers Trust Hillingdon offer support and guidance to unpaid carers of all ages throughout the London Borough of Hillingdon.

They provide information, advice, training and support and a range of Fact Sheets on their website.

Telephone advice centre open every day 10am to 4pm or email with enquiry to email address above.

Benefits and legal advice also available.

They have a team specifically to support young carers.

Citizens Advice Brent
Close

Adviceline is open Monday to Friday 10.00am to 4.00pm.

Advisers are present at Brent Hubs in the Civic Centre from 10.00am to 2.00pm on Mondays and at Harlesden Library from 10.00am to 5.00pm on Wednesdays.

Citizens Advice Hammersmith and Fulham
Close

Citizens Advice Hammersmith and Fulham

T. 0808 278 7832

W. http://cahf.org.uk/

Please contact by telephone.

Opening hours are Monday to Friday 10.00am to 4.00pm.

Citizens Advice Harrow
Close

Please contact by telephone.

Opening hours are Monday and Tuesday 9.30am to 3.30pm. Thursday and Friday 9.30am to 1.00pm.

Citizens Advice Hillingdon
Close

Citizens Advice offers independent and confidential advice over the phone for free.

Extensive online resources and directory

Helping people to find a way ahead with issues of benefits, debt, housing and a wide range of social issues.

Please contact our advice line by phone Monday to Friday 9.30am to 3.30pm.

 

Citizens Advice Hounslow
Close

Please contact by telephone.

Opening hours are Monday to Friday 10.00am to 4.00pm.

Citizens Advice Kensington Chelsea
Close

Please contact by telephone.

Opening hours are Monday to Friday 9.00am to 5.00pm.

Citizens Advice Westminster
Close

Please contact by telephone.

Opening hours are Monday to Friday 10.00am to 4.00pm.

Ealing Advice Service
Close

Ealing Advice Service

T. 0208 579 8429 (option 1)

W. https://ealingadvice.org/

Please contact by telephone.

Opening hours are Monday to Friday 10.00am to 4.00pm.

Ealing Carers
Close

Your Voice in Health and Social Care (YVHSC) are providing the Ealing Carers Service to support carers who have caring responsibilities living within the borough of Ealing.

Harrow Carers
Close

Harrow Carers is an independent charity and voluntary organisation and has been the lead carers’ support agency in Harrow since 1996. Support and services are available to anyone who cares for people in the community who are ill, frail, disabled and disadvantaged.

Related Articles

26th October 2023

Moving someone in and out of bed

Feedback