First of all... I want to mention something that many don't seem to know about? Those pads that we use for our periods. Put them inside their pullup... diapers... depends... whatever you wish to call them. You can use two. Get the ones that really absorb the most and sometimes, if you check them enough, that is all you have to change most of the time! For men, I take one and wrap around more towards the END of the penis. Then take another one, so it goes UP between his legs. Many times, I have to only change my patient's pullup one time a day. I put on a fresh pullup every day.
Are you using a turn "sheet"... but instead of a sheet I need to use something of much stronger material. Right now, I am using a wet-proof pad for turning him but he is nothing but skin and bones. For bigger people, it is very difficult or depending on how much they weigh... can be impossible for one person to take care of them and NOT hurt yourself in the process.
A turn Pad ---- take some stronger material other than a sheet if you have it otherwise use a sheet..... blanket.... Fold it until it is in a rectangle and you will have several layers of "cloth" which makes it even stronger. The size does NOT have to be perfect but you will put this underneath them to help you turn them. It should reach close to the bottom of their neck...and then far enough so their buttocks are laying on it.
Also.... have several of these on hand. One is not enough. They will "jiggle" around in bed and will not stay in place so... will have to replace these from time to time. Of course, they also will get soiled and need washing.
Several thing to help when turning them also:
1. When they are ready to be turned...... put their head down.... and put their legs up. Hopefully, you have a bed where you have controls to put their head up/down and legs up/down. If you don't please check and see if you can get a motorized Hospital bed. This would greatly help.
2. Also.... about the bed.... get a bed that also has a control where you are able to bring the whole bed up. Like me, I am tall so this keeps me from having to bend over so far to take care of my patient. Saves my back.
Sometimes they can lay on their back, bend their legs and push up to get their buttocks off the bed long enough for you to push a menstrual pad underneath them. Or.... a menstrual pad sitting on a diaper... .depend.
3. When you are ready to turn....does she have one side that she can turn to better than the other?
a. Put the head of the bed down.
b. Put the bottom of the bed up.....legs up, if you can.
c. Also... have them bend their legs at the knee as much as possible.
Also, they may be able to help by crossing one ankle over the other: if they
are turning to the left, cross the right leg over the left leg as much as they
can. Ankle crossed over other ankle.
d. Some people can help while others cannot.
Some people can help a little. Allow them to help as much as possible.
If you are turning her to the left.... stand on her right side.... grab that turn sheet with both hands... on hand up even with her right shoulder... and the other, somewhere across her buttocks. ...... pull up on it while turning her to the left.
e. If she is able... and you may have to do this part----grab their hand and
help them grab the bar (in this case, the bar would be on her left) to help
them turn themselves or at least keep her from turning back the other way.
over once you have turned them.
Of course, if you have 2 people, it is much easier to do this. When you have her start to turn to the left, the other person is to be standing on her left and is to grab that turn sheet from you when you start the turn; they can grab that turn sheet at some point from you.... and hold her over while you position the pillow behind her.... behind that turn sheet... blanket..... pad....whatever.
I hope this helps.
I feel for you. Been doing this for 30 plus years. It is NOT easy.
