How to position a bedridden person — positions and repositioning

A bedridden person is positioned alternately on their back and on their sides, with pillows supporting the body, and their position is changed regularly, roughly every 2–4 hours, depending on the condition of the skin and the mattress. On their side, the person lies tilted slightly backwards, by about 30 degrees. The heels should be free of the mattress, and bony parts should not touch each other.

Below we describe the symptoms for which you need to call a nurse or doctor, positions on the back and on the side, how to change position, and how carers can protect their own back.

When to call a nurse or doctor?

Contact a nurse or doctor if the skin shows redness that does not fade after gentle pressure with a finger, a blister, a graze or a wound, especially over the sacrum, heels, hips and elbows. Fever, breathlessness, new confusion, a swollen and painful calf, and sudden weakness in an arm or leg also need urgent assessment.

Pressure sores are not treated on your own or with massage – dressings and further care are decided by a nurse or doctor. If there are signs of a stroke, breathlessness or chest pain, call 112.

How to position a bedridden person on their back?

Lay the person in the middle of the bed, with their head on a low pillow. Slide a pillow under the calves so that the heels are free of the mattress and the knees are slightly bent. Rest the arms on pillows along the trunk. Support the feet so that they do not drop, but do not press the duvet down onto the toes. Do not leave a roll permanently under the knees alone.

A roll kept permanently under the knees encourages contractures in the knee and hip joints. If the person often slides down the bed, check that the head of the bed is not raised too high – for everyday use a slight elevation is enough.

How to position a bedridden person on their side?

Turn the person onto their side and tilt them slightly backwards, by about 30 degrees, resting their back against a pillow or a rolled-up blanket. Leave the lower leg almost straight, bend the upper leg and rest it on a pillow between the knees. Gently bring the lower shoulder forward so that the person is not lying on it with their full weight. The heels and ankles should not touch.

Lying slightly tilted reduces pressure on the bony prominence of the thigh bone near the hip (the trochanter). Rest the upper arm on a pillow in front of the trunk, and put a pillow under the head at a height that keeps the neck in line with the spine.

How to change the person’s position in bed safely?

Tell the person what you are about to do and ask them to help as much as they can. To turn onto the side, they should bend their legs and cross their arms over their chest, while you turn them by holding the shoulder and hip, not the arm. To move them up the bed, use a draw sheet or a slide sheet, ideally with two people. Do not drag the person across the sheet.

1. Prepare the bed. Lower the side rail on your side, lock the wheels and set the bed at the height of your hips.
2. Turning onto the side. The person bends their legs; you place your hands on their shoulder and hip and roll them towards you.
3. Positioning. Slide pillows behind the back and between the knees, and smooth the sheet so there are no creases.
4. Moving up the bed. Two people grip the draw sheet on both sides at shoulder and hip level and move the person “on three”.

If the person reports pain or breathlessness, stop and settle them comfortably back again.

How can carers protect their own back?

Set the bed so that the mattress is roughly at the height of your hips, and work close to the person. Stand with one foot slightly in front of the other, bend your knees, keep your back straight and do not twist your trunk – turn by moving your feet. Slide the person rather than lifting them. If the person cannot help with the change of position, ask a second person for help.

A height-adjustable bed, a slide sheet and a rope ladder or a lifting pole above the bed, if the person has strong arms, are all helpful. For standing up and sitting down, the tips in our post how to help someone get out of bed will be useful.

How can a physiotherapist help with caring for a bedridden person?

In the person’s home, the physiotherapist shows carers how to position them on their back and side, how to turn them and move them up the bed without straining the back, and how to prevent contractures. They carry out breathing and movement exercises in bed and, when possible, practise sitting up and getting into an upright position. They also advise on choosing a bed, a mattress and small equipment.

Prices valid from 08.2026. The physiotherapist decides on the number of visits individually. We write about arranging the bed and furniture in the person’s room in our post how to prepare your home for home physiotherapy.

Summary

Position a bedridden person alternately on their back and on their sides, tilted back by approx. 30 degrees, with pillows between the knees and the heels free, and change their position regularly, roughly every 2–4 hours. Slide the person on a draw sheet, do not pull them by the arms, and show any redness of the skin that does not fade to a nurse or doctor.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

• European Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel, National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel, Pan Pacific Pressure Injury Alliance, Prevention and Treatment of Pressure Ulcers/Injuries: Clinical Practice Guideline, 2019.
• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), Pressure ulcers: prevention and management (CG179), 2014.
• Waters T.R., When is it safe to manually lift a patient?, American Journal of Nursing, 2007.
• National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), Stroke rehabilitation in adults (NG236), 2023.