Assisting patients with their daily activities help them to feel more confident and in control of their situation. Often stroke victims will need help with dressing. When helping a patient dress it is important to remove the clothing from the strong side of their body first. You then will dress the weak side of their body and then dress the strong side.

How to Dress a Bedridden Patient:

Supplies:

  • Towel

  • 2 Shirts

  • 2 Pairs of Pants

  • 1 Pair of Socks

  • Gloves

Steps:

  1. Knock on the patient’s door and then enter

  2. Greet patient by name, introduce yourself, and what you are doing

  3. Provide for privacy by shutting curtains

  4. Wash hands and put on gloves

  5. Check patient’s ID to confirm identity

  6. Gather supplies and place on towel-covered tray table

  7. If the patient is sitting up, ask to place them into a flat lying down position

  8. Ask the patient what they would like to wear by offering them two options

  9. Make sure to cover the patient whenever you are not working on that area

  10. Put their socks on and pull their pants up to their thighs

  11. Untie the gown and remove from their strong side

  12. Next, remove the gown from their weak side

  13. Place all dirty clothes in hamper

  14. As you put on their shirt, encourage the patient to help on their weak side

  15. Continually make sure that the patient is covered and not exposed with the towel

  16. Put the sleeve of the shirt on weak side of the patient first

  17. Ask the patient to roll slightly to the opposite side and tuck the shirt underneath them so you can access it from the other side

  18. While they are on their side pull the pants up to their hips

  19. If you couldn't get the pants fully on have them roll the other way and pull them up

  20. Have them roll back to the flat position and put the other sleeve on

  21. Button pants

  22. Button the shirt and ask if they want the top button buttoned, if not leave it undone

  23. Ask if they would like their shirt tucked in

  24. Straighten sheets so they are free of wrinkles

  25. Put any remaining dirty linens in the hamper

  26. Remove gloves and wash hands

  27. Ask how they want the head of their bed

  28. Place the call light in the patient’s hand and pull the curtains closed

 

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