How to Reposition a Bedridden Elderly Person Safely

Helping a bedridden parent change position is one of the most frequent tasks in home care. Done well, it keeps them more comfortable, helps protect the skin, and supports breathing and circulation. Done in a hurry, it can hurt both your parent and your own back.

This guide explains, step by step, how families can reposition a bedridden elderly person safely at home: how to move them up the bed, how to turn them onto their side, and how to support them with pillows. It builds on our main guide to bedridden elderly care at home.

Why Repositioning Matters

• Skin protection: Changing position relieves pressure on bony areas and is central to preventing bedsores.
• Comfort: Lying still for long periods causes stiffness and aches.
• Breathing: Different positions, and sitting up when possible, can make breathing easier.
• Joints and muscles: Regular movement may help reduce stiffness.
• Dignity and connection: A position change is also a chance to talk, check how they feel, and look at their surroundings from a different angle.

How Often Should You Change Position?

There is no single schedule that suits everyone. Many care teams suggest changing the position of a person who cannot move on their own roughly every two hours, and sometimes more or less often depending on their skin, mattress and health. Ask your parent’s nurse or doctor for a routine that suits them. A simple chart near the bed, noting the time and position (back, left side, right side), helps everyone in the family stay consistent, especially at night.

Before You Start

1. Explain what you are about to do. Even if your parent is drowsy or confused, a calm explanation reduces fear and helps them cooperate.
2. Get help if you need it. Two people make most moves safer, especially for a heavier person.
3. Raise the bed if possible. If you have an adjustable bed, bring it to around your waist height. With a normal low bed, kneel on the bed or a cushion rather than bending deeply.
4. Lower the head of the bed flat, unless breathing difficulty or a doctor’s instruction means they must stay raised.
5. Check for tubes, catheters and drains so nothing gets pulled.
6. Remove extra pillows and keep fresh ones within reach.
7. Lock the wheels of the bed if it has them.

How to Move Someone Up the Bed

People tend to slide down the bed over time, especially when the backrest is raised. Moving them back up is best done with two caregivers and a draw sheet, a folded bedsheet placed under the person from shoulders to thighs, or a repositioning sheet with handles.

1. Lay the head of the bed flat and place a pillow against the headboard to protect your parent’s head.
2. Stand on opposite sides of the bed. Roll the edges of the draw sheet close to your parent’s body and hold it firmly near the shoulders and hips.
3. If your parent can help, ask them to bend their knees, put their feet flat on the bed and tuck their chin in.
4. On a count of three, both of you lift the sheet slightly and slide your parent gently towards the head of the bed. Avoid dragging the skin across the sheet.
5. Straighten the sheet, remove wrinkles and reposition the pillows.

How to Turn Someone Onto Their Side

Turning onto the side relieves pressure on the back and tailbone. Here is a common method for one person, assuming your parent is lying on their back and you are turning them towards you:

1. Stand on the side you want them to turn towards. Move them slightly to the opposite side of the bed first so they end up in the middle after turning.
2. Cross their far arm over their chest and bend their far knee, or cross the far leg over the near one.
3. Place one hand on their far shoulder and the other on their far hip.
4. Gently roll them towards you onto their side. Keep your own back straight and use your legs and body weight rather than pulling with your arms.
5. Place a pillow or wedge behind their back to stop them rolling back.
6. Bend their upper leg slightly forward and put a pillow between the knees and ankles so the bones do not press together.
7. Make sure the lower shoulder is not trapped underneath. Gently ease it forward so they are not lying directly on the shoulder joint.

Check that their ear is not folded under their head, and that the face is clear of the pillow for easy breathing.

Comfortable Positions and Pillow Support

Lying on the back

• A thin pillow under the head and shoulders
• A pillow under the calves, so the heels float slightly off the mattress
• Arms supported on pillows if they are swollen or weak

Lying on the side

• A pillow or wedge behind the back
• A pillow between the knees and ankles
• A small pillow to support the upper arm

Many nurses suggest a slightly tilted side position, rather than lying fully on the hip bone, to reduce pressure on the hip. Ask your nurse to show you the angle that suits your parent.

Helping Them Sit Up in Bed

Sitting up for meals, medicines and conversation is important, both for safe swallowing and for mood. Raise the head of the bed, or use a backrest with pillows, and make sure your parent is positioned high enough on the bed so that they bend at the hips, not the middle of the back. A pillow under the knees can stop them sliding down. After the meal and a short rest, lower them again unless the doctor has advised otherwise. Our guide on feeding a bedridden elderly person safely explains mealtime positioning in more detail. If your parent can sit at the edge of the bed or stand, see how to help an elderly person get in and out of bed safely.

Protecting Your Own Back

Family caregivers often injure their backs during repeated lifting. A few habits help:

• Keep your feet apart, knees slightly bent and back straight.
• Stay close to your parent instead of reaching over the bed.
• Use your legs and body weight, not just your arms.
• Never twist your back while lifting. Move your feet instead.
• Ask for help, and use aids such as a draw sheet or repositioning sheet.
• If you feel pain, stop. Ask a physiotherapist to teach you safer techniques.

Helpful Products for Repositioning

These items can make position changes smoother and safer. Choose based on your parent’s weight, condition and your home setup, and ask the nurse or physiotherapist if you are unsure.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can one person reposition a bedridden parent alone?

Turning onto the side can often be done by one person with good technique. Moving someone up the bed is usually safer with two people and a draw sheet. If your parent is heavy or cannot help at all, ask the nurse about equipment or extra help.

Should I wake my parent at night to change position?

Many people who cannot move on their own still need position changes at night. Ask the nurse what routine suits your parent. Some families find a quieter, quicker turn is possible without fully waking them.

What if my parent says it hurts to be moved?

Move slowly, explain each step and support painful areas. If pain is new, severe or getting worse, tell the doctor, as pain relief or a different technique may be needed.

How do I stop my parent from sliding down the bed?

Lower the backrest when they do not need to sit up, place a pillow under the knees when they are raised, and make sure they bend at the hips when sitting.

Conclusion

Repositioning is a simple act that makes a big difference to comfort and skin health. Go slowly, explain what you are doing, use pillows generously, and protect your own back. Most importantly, ask a nurse or physiotherapist to show you the techniques once in person. That one lesson can make every day of care easier.