The diaper of a bedridden person should be checked every 3 hours and replaced whenever it is soiled with urine or faeces, to increase the person's comfort and avoid the appearance of a rash. Thus it is possible that at least 4 diapers per day are used.
Normally, the geriatric diaper, which is easily found in pharmacies and supermarkets, should only be used in bedridden people who can not control the urge to urinate or defecate, such as after a stroke. In other cases, it is recommended to take the person to the bathroom or use a midwife so that they do not lose control of the sphincters over time.
To prevent a person from falling out of bed while changing the diaper, it is advisable to have two people change or the bed is against the wall.
6 steps to change diaper
1. Take off the diaper and wipe the genital area with a gauze soaked in soapy water or wipes, removing the dirt from the genital region to the anus, to prevent urinary infections;
2. Fold the front of the diaper so that it holds the clean part up and turn the person to one side of the bed. Here's a simple way to turn in: How to become a bedridden person;
3. Wipe the buttock and anal area with another gauze soaked in soap and water or use moist tissues, removing the stool with a movement of the genital region toward the anus;
4. Remove the dirty diaper and put a clean cloth on the bed, leaning on the bottom. Then dry the genital area and anal area with a dry gauze, towel or cotton diaper;
5. Turn the person up on the clean diaper and glue it.
After drying the genital and anal region it is recommended to pass a rash ointment, such as Hipogloss or B-panthenol, to avoid the appearance of skin irritation.
If the bed is articulated, it is advisable that it is raised to the level of the caregiver's hip and completely horizontal to facilitate diaper change.
Material needed to change the diaper
The material needed to change the diaper of a bedridden person and who must be at hand at the time of exchange includes:
- 1 clean and dry diaper;
- 1 Basin with warm soapy water;
- Clean and dry gazes, cotton towel or diaper.
An alternative to gauze soaked in warm soapy water is the use of baby wipes, such as Pamper's or Johnson's, which can be purchased at any pharmacy or supermarket for an average price of 8 reais per package.
Learn how to do other important care at:
- How to bathe in a bedridden person
- How to change the bed sheets of a bedridden person
