Making bed can be a physical task, but don’t give up because you have arthritis. Bed making is easy with these tips.
1. Forget perfection when making a bed. Hospital corners aren’t necessary. In fact, don’t bother tucking the top sheet under the mattress. Just smooth it out and throw the comforter over the sheet.
2. Get some leverage. If you’re a stickler for a tucked sheet, use a long-handled wooden spoon to push the sheet under the mattress.
3. Cut the job in quarters. Rather than reaching, try making a bed one section at a time. Match one of the bottom corners of the blanket or sheet to one of the bottom corners of the bed, and repeat with the other bottom corner. Draw one of the top corners of the blanket or sheet up to one of the top corners of the bed, then, repeat.
4. Add markers for an even fit. To get bed sheets and blankets to hang evenly on both sides without having to walk back and forth to judge the distance, mark the center of the sheet at the top, middle and bottom with a light-colored indelible marker or an iron-on decal. When making bed, simply line up the marks for an even fit from side to side and top to bottom.
5. Eliminate the top sheet. Reducing the layers on your bed will help lessen the load by decreasing the number of times needed to stretch, pull and straighten.
6. Combine covers. If you use a top sheet and blanket, sew Velcro patches onto each layer so they can be attached during chilly months and separated during warm weather. Small loops sewn on the outer blanket can also help you pull up the combined covers.
1. I make sure that I fold the top sheet lengthwise on the first fold. That way, when I open the sheet, I just position the long crease on the center of the bed and open it.
2. I position the quilt on one side of the bed so that it just falls to the floor. Then I just pull it across to the other side of the bed, where it just hits the floor.
Like I said, I'm not trying to sell it, won't make money on it, but it does work for me and I've even given them as gifts to other friends with joint and back problems.
Very cool bed!!!
Unfortunately, it's not very good for people with Rheumatoid Arthritis who are the ones who have difficulties changing the bed, especially getting their fingers under the mattress to put a fitted sheet on. No one with RA can lift a bed with a mattress on it!!! If it was motorized it might help, though I don't think it would since the raised height is most likely best for men, not women, as most things are designed to be optimized for. If the bed could flip a mattress over, that would also help!!!
My tips for changing a bed?
I stopped using fitted sheets which made bed changing easier and only use flat sheets. I get the flat sheet not to move while I am sleeping by using a fleece fitted sheet as and on top of a plastic mattress cover. The sheet does not budge an inch.
I also use flannel sheets in summer because I'm always cold, and mink fleece sheets in winter. Mink fleece is super lightweight and unbelievably comfortable. It's like sleeping inside a furry cat and it is very warm.
I've used the wooden spoon method for years, and have also used dowels to put the fitted sheets under the mattress. It works but is still difficult. My new method of not using fitted sheets is working well.
I am thinking of unsewing all my fitted sheet corners to turn them into flat sheets so I'll have matching flat sheets atop and below instead of using the flat sheets from two different sheet sets. Not sure how that will work.
For more tips on Aids for Daily Living, feel free to browse my Facebook group of that name.
Leave a Comment