How to Make a Bed for Someone with Alzheimer's

If you are a caregiver to someone with Alzheimer's, incontinence is a problem.
I will provide you with the information you need to protect the mattress when these situations arise.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• vinyl zippered mattress bag.
• waterproof mattress pad.
• shower curtain liner.
• waterproof bed pads.
• tuckables.
• draw sheet.

1. If you have a zippered waterproof mattress bag start with that. If you don't, you can use a shower curtain liner over the top of the mattress.

2. Next you will put on the waterproof mattress pad, followed by the fitted sheet.

3. 

   Now you will put the tuckable waterproof pads across the middle of the bed as shown below.

4. 

   The next step is to put the drawsheet across the pads and tuck it all in.

5. Now that the bottom part of the mattress is protected, you can finish making the bed as you normally would do.

6. 

   For this article I have chosen the disposable waterproof pads, but you may prefer to use the cloth washable kind.

7. 

   Ca-Rezz is a good product for incontinence. The spray works as a no rinse body wash to control odor. The cream protects the skin from moisture guarding against bed sores.

Tips & Warnings

• The drawsheet works great if you have to change the bed in the middle of the night, you just pull it off with the tuckables and you have a dry bed. Go back to sleep and deal with it in the morning. Providing your loved one stayed on the drawsheet!
• You can use different techniques of layering as long as you have the needed supplies.
• A draw sheet is simply a flat, top sheet, the appropriate size for the mattress. Fold it in half the length of the sheet, then tuck it under both sides.
• The disposable pads make a rustling sound which may agitate your loved one. If that is the case then you most definitely would want to use the cloth pads.
• There are no warnings for this method.

Resources

• myspace page

[allamerican4you]

on 10/27/2009 Very good. Most would be baffeled by this simple concept once confronted with it. Even more difficult is doing this whith a person still in the bed.....Ah ha perhaps and idea for another article.....5* & rec'd

[bevsue]

on 5/28/2009 Good, practical advice on making a bed for an Alzheimer patient.

[Tehilliahwriter]

on 1/6/2009 This is a great article. I'm glad I stopped by to read it. This is very valuable information. You should join the group that does the read and rate. It's really a great group. I will make sure to look out for your articles,to read and rate them. Excellent

Keep up the good work!

Blessings and Favor,

Tehilliahwriter

[melissanflammia]

on 12/27/2008 Very good.