What are some good ways to change my bedridden mother's diapers?

Do you have any nurses coming to help you? If so, ask them to show you a"roll-over" technique. You said "us", so im assuming you have help. Make sure you have not the pull-up kind, but the depends that opens on the sides like a baby diaper.

Have your helper stand on the other side of mom.
Open diaper.
Roll mom towards your helper. Your helper not only holds her up, but is also the main for comforting mom.
Pull the diaper out and give mom a good washing.
Place a fresh diaper under her. Bunch a little under mom.
Roll mom onto her back and then slightly towards you, your helper now pulls out that bunched part.

This technique puts the least stress on your mom without having her to help or to lift her.

Best Wishes!

kellybean said it all. This is what I do. I am alone most of the time but you just have to go from one side of the bed to the other alot. Talking to your mom while doing this helps. and make sure the bed is up high so you don't get a back ache. Good luck.

Just a quick suggestion, but baby whipes are great for everything and it could make clean up easier.

KelleyBean, after you remove the soiled diaper and before you start washing "the bottom" do you have to put a towel down so that the bedding doesn't get wet? After patting dry "the bottom" do you put anything on the skin before putting on the clean diaper? Do you ever leave the area open to air dry if the room is warm enough? Thanks for the info.

I am not kellybean but at night I just lay a diaper under mom so her bottom can get air. You need to turn her every two hrs any way so she does not get bed sores if you do not have am air mattress or sponge mattress on the bed and than you can clean her and put a fresh diaper and pad under her. I put cheap diaper rash med. with zinc in it on her and lots of vasoline. You can get paper or cloth underpads and hospice will supplie this stuff for you. Ask lots of questions they are full of info.

I changed my husband's "diapers" or paper panties, as I preferred to call them, by sliding them under the butt and taping the two sides, like a baby's diaper. I found this method easier than the pull-up diapers which are the most commonly used for adult incontinence. No need to change anything else when you use the taping diaper.

Thanks, ksue5036.

During Mom's ER visits last fall and then four day hospitalization, they just didn't use diapers or insert pads at all. They used those big disposable pads that protect the mattress and sheets. The patient could call for help to go to the bathroom or portapotty, or they just went on the pad. They even used parts of that for wiping the body. Then roll it up tight to dispose of it. The nurse said it is easier all around and not having pads/depends admits more air to the area. So, is this now standard procedure in all nursing homes and hospitals.

Thanks for starting this thread.

I don't like those great big things that suffice for diapers. No one likes them. You can get those regular paper panties yourself and put them on the patient in addition to their pads.

The best way to clean and then "rediaper" is to wipe as much as you can into the old diaper and then place a towel or bed protector under her to wash. Make sure she is completely dry, maybe a small amount of powder, NO BABY POWDER, as that tends to have a little bit of oiliness to it. Medicated powder DOES work great and you an buy those in large bottles at even the dollar store. The thing about it is, bacteria loves moist, dark, hot places. Rashes and sores will happen a lot quicker if not kept as dry as possible. If your mom wants to umm "air out" a bit. If she's comfortable with it haha, why not?

And yes, make sure you change her position every 2 hours. The skin on the joints. Like elbows, ankle bones, shoulder blades and especially the bottom, they can become very nasty if not relieved regularly. If shes laying flat on her back, even adding a pillow or taking one away is good and placing pillows to elevate her arms will give a good position change. A rolled up towel under her Achilles heals too.