What sheet is used for bedridden patients? A comprehensive guide

September 30, 2025 •

4 min read

Did you know that the right bedding can significantly reduce the risk of pressure sores in immobilized individuals? Choosing the correct sheet for bedridden patients is a crucial part of care, and specialized options exist to ensure both comfort and safety.

Quick Summary

Caring for bedridden patients requires specific types of sheets designed for comfort, hygiene, and mobility. Available options include specialized fitted sheets, repositioning draw sheets, and breathable, moisture-wicking materials that help prevent bedsores.

Key Points

Draw Sheets: Use draw sheets, which are smaller sheets placed across the middle of the bed, to assist caregivers in safely repositioning and transferring patients while reducing back strain.
Low-Friction Sheets: Employ specialized sliding or tubular sheets, often made from slick nylon, to minimize skin friction and shear during patient movement, a key factor in preventing bedsores.
Proper Fit is Critical: Always use fitted sheets designed for hospital beds, which are typically longer and have deeper pockets than standard sheets, to ensure a snug, wrinkle-free fit.
Material Matters for Comfort: Choose breathable, soft fabrics like cotton, cotton-polyester blends, or jersey knit to promote air circulation and reduce moisture, which can cause skin irritation.
Underpads for Hygiene: Incorporate absorbent, waterproof underpads, or 'chux,' to protect the mattress and keep the patient dry in case of incontinence.
Accessible Bedding: Look for modern, accessible options like zip-on fitted sheets that simplify the process of changing the bedding, reducing the physical burden on caregivers.
Systematic Approach to Bedding: A combination of multiple layers—fitted sheet, underpad, and draw sheet—offers the best protection for the patient and eases the caregiving process.

Essential Bedding for Bedridden Patients

When caring for a bedridden patient, standard household sheets are often inadequate for their specific needs. Specialized hospital and home care linens are designed to enhance patient comfort, maintain hygiene, and, most importantly, help prevent common complications like pressure ulcers, or bedsores. These specialized products include more than just a standard fitted sheet; a complete bedding system often involves draw sheets, underpads, and sheets made from specific materials to reduce friction and moisture.

Draw Sheets for Patient Mobility

One of the most valuable tools for a caregiver is a draw sheet. This is a smaller, rectangular sheet that is placed across the bed, typically from the patient's shoulders to their thighs. It serves several purposes:

Repositioning: It allows one or more caregivers to easily lift, turn, or slide a patient in bed with less physical strain and reduced risk of injury for both the patient and the caregiver.
Mobility Assistance: For patients with limited mobility, a draw sheet can make small adjustments to their position without causing painful skin shearing, which is friction that can lead to skin breakdown and bedsores.
Hygiene Management: Draw sheets can be made of waterproof material or combined with absorbent underpads to protect the main fitted sheet and mattress from spills and incontinence.

Draw sheets are available in different materials, from durable cotton and polyester blends to low-friction nylon for easier sliding. Some versions also include reinforced handles to provide an even more secure grip for caregivers.

Specialized Fitted Sheets

Fitted sheets for hospital beds are different from standard sheets, as hospital beds have narrower and longer mattresses, often in a Twin XL size. They need to have a deeper pocket or elasticized edges to accommodate the adjustable nature of hospital beds and thicker pressure-relief mattresses. Key features to look for include:

Secure Fit: A properly fitting sheet will not bunch up or wrinkle, which is a major cause of skin irritation and pressure sores.
Accessible Designs: Innovative options like QuickZip fitted sheets feature a zip-on, zip-off top panel that makes changing sheets much faster and easier for caregivers.
Material Selection: Look for breathable fabrics like jersey knit cotton or high-quality cotton/polyester blends, which offer softness and durability. Breathability is essential for preventing skin maceration caused by moisture.

Repositioning and Sliding Sheets

For patients who need frequent, gentle repositioning, specialized sliding or tubular sheets are extremely beneficial. These are made with a smooth, low-friction nylon material that allows the patient to be moved with minimal effort. Unlike draw sheets, which are primarily for lifting, these are for effortless gliding across the bed surface. Some come as a full tubular design, while others are smaller underpads. For those with Parkinson's or other mobility challenges, a sheet with a satin panel can reduce friction to aid in self-turning.

Underpads (Chux)

Underpads are absorbent, disposable or reusable pads used for managing incontinence and protecting the mattress. They are a critical component of bedding for bedridden patients to ensure hygiene and skin integrity. Underpads can be placed directly on top of the fitted sheet or under a draw sheet to provide an extra layer of protection.

A Comparison of Specialized Bedding


Feature	Draw Sheets	Repositioning/Sliding Sheets	Fitted Sheets (Hospital)
Primary Purpose	Lift and transfer patient; aid in turning.	Reduce friction for easy patient sliding/repositioning.	Secure, comfortable base layer for the mattress.
Caregiver Effort	Moderate to high, depending on patient mobility.	Low, due to ultra-low friction material.	Low, especially with zip-on systems.
Patient Comfort	Comfortable for short-term use during repositioning.	Smooth, low-friction surface can be comfortable.	Designed for long-term comfort and skin health.
Friction Reduction	Some designs offer reduced friction; a primary tool is lifting.	Extremely effective at reducing friction and shearing.	High-quality, breathable fabrics reduce skin irritation.
Material Examples	Cotton, poly/cotton blend, some with waterproof backings.	Nylon with specialized slick coating.	Cotton, polyester blend, jersey knit.
Ease of Use	Placed across the middle of the bed for targeted use.	Often tubular or smaller pad; can be left under patient.	Elasticized corners provide a snug fit for hospital beds.

How to Prevent Pressure Sores with Proper Bedding

Beyond selecting the right sheets, proper bedding management is crucial for preventing pressure sores. A combination of factors, including regular repositioning, using low-friction materials, and maintaining skin dryness, is key. Low-friction materials like those found in satin or special nylon sheets minimize the shearing force that can damage delicate skin. High-quality, breathable fitted sheets, especially in conjunction with an air mattress, help regulate temperature and keep the skin dry, reducing the risk of maceration.

For more information on the management of bedsores, you can consult resources like the Mayo Clinic.

The Ultimate Guide to Bedding for Bedridden Patients

By combining these different types of bedding, caregivers can create a system that prioritizes the patient's comfort, health, and safety while also making their own tasks more manageable. For example, an effective setup might include a breathable hospital-grade fitted sheet, an absorbent underpad for protection, and a repositioning draw sheet to assist with movement.

Considerations for Different Patient Needs

For Patients with Incontinence: Use disposable or reusable underpads (chux) in addition to a fitted sheet to protect the mattress.
For Patients Needing Repositioning: Use a draw sheet or a specialized sliding sheet to reduce friction and caregiver strain.
For Sensitive Skin: Opt for soft, breathable materials like high-quality cotton or jersey knit to minimize irritation.
For Ease of Bed Changes: Consider systems with zip-on sheet tops, or simple flat and fitted sheet combinations.

Conclusion

The choice of bedding for a bedridden patient is a critical component of their overall care. The correct combination of fitted sheets, draw sheets, repositioning aids, and underpads not only provides a comfortable and hygienic environment but also plays a direct role in preventing serious health issues like bedsores. Caregivers can significantly improve patient outcomes and reduce their own physical strain by understanding the different types of specialized sheets available and choosing those that best meet the patient's specific needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

A draw sheet is a small sheet placed across the bed under a patient's midsection, from their shoulders to their thighs. It is primarily used to help caregivers lift, turn, and reposition the patient with greater ease and less strain, which minimizes friction and helps prevent bedsores.

Sheets that prevent bedsores are typically made from materials that reduce friction and are breathable to manage moisture. Specialized repositioning or sliding sheets with low-friction nylon surfaces are particularly effective. Using a securely fitted sheet without wrinkles is also crucial to avoid skin irritation.

To ensure a proper fit, you should purchase sheets specifically designed for hospital beds, as they have different dimensions than standard home mattresses. These sheets are typically sized as Twin XL (36" x 80") and have deeper pockets to accommodate adjustable frames and pressure-relief mattresses.

The best materials are soft, breathable, and durable. Good options include 100% cotton, especially long-staple varieties, and jersey knit fabric. These materials are gentle on the skin, wick away moisture, and stand up to frequent washing.

Waterproof underpads, also known as 'chux,' are highly recommended for bedridden patients, especially those with incontinence. They protect the mattress from fluids and simplify cleanup, though they are often used in combination with a top layer of regular sheets for comfort.

Bed linens for bedridden patients should be changed at least once a week, and more frequently if soiled or damp. Maintaining a clean, dry, and wrinkle-free environment is essential for preventing skin breakdown and infection.

Repositioning sheets are special sheets, often with a slick inner surface or a tubular design, that enable caregivers to slide and move a patient with minimal lifting. They can have handles to provide a secure grip and are extremely effective at reducing the friction that leads to skin damage.

Zip-on fitted sheet systems consist of a base that wraps around the mattress and a top sheet that zips on and off easily. This design is ideal for caregivers as it drastically simplifies the process of changing linens, requiring less lifting and wrestling with the mattress.