Providing a bed bath is one of the most intimate and essential caregiving tasks—and when performed properly, it promotes both the physical and emotional well-being of the resident. For individuals who are bedridden or have limited mobility, regular bed baths are critical to maintaining hygiene, comfort, and dignity.

1. Prevents Infection and Skin Breakdown
   Bed baths remove sweat, oils, dead skin cells, and bacteria, helping to prevent rashes, pressure sores, and infections—especially in areas prone to moisture and friction.

2. Promotes Circulation and Comfort
   Gentle washing and drying, combined with light massage motions, stimulate circulation and relieve tension. This is particularly beneficial for residents with limited movement or poor blood flow.

3. Allows for Early Detection of Health Concerns
   Bed baths provide an opportunity to inspect the resident’s skin for redness, bruises, wounds, or signs of breakdown—issues that may go unnoticed without daily close contact and observation.

4. Maintains Resident Dignity and Emotional Well-Being
   Performing the skill respectfully—by maintaining privacy, explaining steps, and ensuring comfort—helps preserve the resident’s dignity and builds trust in the caregiver-resident relationship.

5. Supports Comfort and Rest
   Clean skin contributes to better sleep, reduces itching or discomfort, and enhances overall quality of life—making the resident feel refreshed, relaxed, and cared for.

In essence, a properly performed bed bath is not just a hygiene task—it is a cornerstone of compassionate care, ensuring safety, comfort, dignity, and attentive health monitoring for residents who rely on others for their daily needs.

You will need the following when Providing a Partial Bed Bath to a Resident: 
Barrier:

• Bath Basin
• Soap
• Lotion
• 4 Washcloths
• 2 Towels
• Gloves
• Privacy Blanket
• Clean Gown

1. Preparation & Hand Hygiene

• Read and follow the Care Plan, the whole Care Plan, and nothing but the Care Plan.
• Knock and announce yourself before entering.
• Greet the Resident by name and introduce yourself.
• Explain the task to the Resident and ensure their comfort and consent.
• Close the Privacy Curtain
• Wash your hands thoroughly before beginning.
• Assess Glove Rules (Are Gloves required for this Resident?)
• Place Barrier on the Bedside Table
• Gather your Supplies.
  • Do Not allow supplies to touch your Uniform
  • Do Not touch supplies until your hands are clean.
• Place supplies on Barrier. 

2. Partial Bed Bath Preparation

• Retrieve Wash Basin and bring to the sink. 
• Use a paper towel to turn water on. 
• Using your forearm, verify water temperature. 
• Using Warm water, fill Wash Basin.
• Ask Resident to Check Water Temperature.
  • Adjust Temperature accordingly.
• Place Wash Basin on Barrier
• Cover Resident with Privacy Blanket (over Sheet)
  • Promotes Warmth and Privacy.
  • Do Not Snap or Shake the Blanket.
• Pull sheet down to Resident’s Waist.
• While Supporting the Resident using your hand in the small of their back, ask Resident to lean forward. 
• Untie Resident Gown.
• Spread Towel across the Bed to protect it from water during this Skill.
• Spread the Towel out, so that it covers the bed underneath Resident’s Arm. 
• Remove Resident’s Gown on side closest to you, lifting and supporting the Arm at the joints as you remove the Gown. 
• Relocate Gown to Resident’s Other side, careful to ensure Resident is covered with Privacy Blanket to minimize exposure.
• Apply your Gloves.
• Place Washcloths into Wash Basin to wet them. 
• Retrieve a Washcloth, and wring out over Wash Basin.
  • Avoid “drippy” Washcloths.

3. Performing Partial Bed Bath – Face

• ALWAYS begin Partial Bed Baths by washing the Resident’s Face. 
• Using the “Leaves Method”, use a Washcloth to begin performing Resident’s Partial Bed Bath.
• Begin gently wiping Resident’s Eyelid. going from the inside corner (near the nose) to the outside corner.
• Fold dirty Washcloth “Leaf” 
• Use a clean “Leaf” of the Washcloth for each Eye. 
• Fold dirty Washcloth “Leaf” 
• Using a Clean “Leaf” gently wipe the remainder of the Resident’s Face, except Resident’s Nose. 
• Using the final “Leaf” wipe area around Resident’s Nose. 
• Maintain Control of Washcloth throughout, do not allow it to whip around, striking Resident or flinging water. 
• Place used Washcloth on Barrier.
• Use a Clean towel to Gently Pat dry Resident’s Face.
• Set drying towel aside on the Bedside Table. 

4. Performing Partial Bed Bath –  Wash

• Retrieve Clean Washcloth from the Wash Basin.
  • Wring out Washcloth
• Apply Soap to the Washcloth
• Leaves Method is not necessary as Resident has intact skin.
• Using the Soapy Washcloth, GENTLY wipe down:
  • Behind Resident’s Ear
  • Under Resident’s Chin
  • Across the Neck.
• While holding the Blanket up and still covering the Resident for privacy, gently wipe down Resident’s:
  • Upper Torso
  • Abdomen center and sides.
• Clean down front of Resident’s Arm, and Resident’s Hand. 
• Lifting at the elbow, Wipe down back of Resident’s Arm, elbow and lastly the Armpit. 
• Place Dirty Soapy Washcloth on Barrier. 

5. Performing Partial Bed Bath –  Front Section

• Retrieve Clean Washcloth from Wash Basin.
  • Wring out Washcloth
• Using the Clean Washcloth, gently wipe all cleaned or soapy areas:
  • Behind the Ears
  • Under the Chin
  • Across the Neck
  • Upper Torso
  • Abdomen Center and sides
  • Arm and Armpit
• Place Rinse Washcloth back into Wash Basin. 
• Retrieve Dry towel from Barrier and use to gently Pat dry all cleaned Areas:
  • Behind the Ears
  • Under the Chin
  • Across the Neck
  • Upper Torso
  • Abdomen Center and sides
  • Arm and Armpit

6. Partial Bed Bath Back Section & Backrub

• Retrieve Resident’s Clean Gown. 
• Unfold Gown
  • Do Not Snap or Shake Gown.
• Placing your Arm through the Sleeve, gather the Sleeve
• Placing your hand through the Sleeve, grasp Resident’s hand like a Handshake, and gently pull Resident’s Arm through the Sleeve.
  • Ensures Resident’s Fingers are not caught in Sleeve. 
  • Lift and Support Resident’s Arm at elbow as you Assist in getting the Sleeve on. 
• Pull the Gown towards Resident’s other side, and spread gown out. 
• Move to other side of Resident
• Remove Soiled Gown from Resident and place in Dirty Linens. 
• Placing your arm through the Remaining Sleeve, gather the sleeve and grasp Resident’s Hand in Handshake motion. 
• Lifting the arm from below, supporting at the elbow, place Resident’s Arm through Sleeve. 
• Move back to Resident’s Right side
• Using “Scoot and Roll”, assist Resident in rolling onto their Left side. 
• Ensure Resident is in the center of the bed.
• Retrieve Clean Washcloth from Wash Basin
• Wring out Washcloth
• Soap the Top “Leaf” of the Washcloth
• Using the Washcloth, wipe down:
  • Back of Resident’s Neck
  • Shoulders
  • Small of Resident’s Back to the Waist. 
• Place Soapy Washcloth onto Barrier
• Retrieve Final Washcloth from Wash Basin
• Wring out Washcloth
• Using Rinse Washcloth, wipe down:
  • Back of Resident’s Neck
  • Shoulders
  • Small of Resident’s Back to the Waist. 
• Retrieve Towel from Barrier and Gently Pat Dry:
  • Back of Resident’s Neck
  • Shoulders
  • Small of Resident’s Back to the Waist. 
• Retrieve the lotion from the Barrier.
• Apply a Small amount of Lotion to your hands to warm it. 
• Apply lotion to Resident’s Back.
• Start at the small of Resident’s Back.
• In small, circular motions, move towards the Resident’s Shoulders.
• Repeat for a Total of 3 repetitions. 
• Use the Towel to dry and wipe away excess lotion. 
• Tie Resident Gown. 
• Remove Towel from Resident’s Bed. 
• Assist Resident with Lying on their back, ensure they are in the Center of the Bed.

7. Supply Disposal

• Place towel and wash cloths in Soiled Linens. 
• Pour Wash Basin into Sink. 
• Clean Wash Basin per Facility guidelines.
• Use a Paper Towel to pick up Wash Basin
• Dry Wash Basin with Paper Towels. 
• Return to your supplies and place Lotion and Soap into Wash Basin.
• Use a paper towel to open Bedside Table. 
• Place Wash Basin in Bedside Table.
• Dispose of Barrier in the garbage. 
• Remove and dispose of Gloves.
• Remove Privacy Blanket
• Roll into a ball, careful to secure blankets ends.
  • Place in Soiled Linens. 
• Adjust Resident’s Sheet for Warmth and Comfort.

8. Address Resident Comfort &  Closing

• Ensure Resident is comfortable.
• Ensure Resident is sitting properly in the chair.
  • Feet flat on the Wheelchair footrests
  • Hips against the back of the chair
  • Resident sitting up straight
• Ask about Resident needs and preferences.
• Provide Resident with Call light.
• Open Privacy curtain and ensure bed is in lowest position.
• Thoroughly wash your hands.
• Record additional relevant observations.
• Thoroughly wash your hands. 
• Think about the Steps of your Skill. Make any corrections. Tell the evaluator your Skills is complete. 

Avoid these common testing errors when Performing a Partial Bed Bath:

• • • Not reading and following the Care Plan, the whole Care Plan, and nothing but the Care Plan.
    • Not greeting Resident or describing Task. 
    • Not following Proper privacy practices while washing Resident/Exposing Resident. 
    • Not closing Privacy Curtain. 
    • Not verifying Water Temperature with Resident
    • Forcing Resident to use a Water Temperature that is uncomfortable/harmful. 
    • Not thoroughly washing your hands.
    • Not gathering your supplies. 
    • Not using Proper “Leaves Method” practices. 
    • Not containing corners of Washcloths/towels/blanket while washing. 
    • Not thoroughly Washing/Applying soap/Rinsing Resident. 
    • Not Cleaning all areas thoroughly.
    • Not warming Lotion in your hands prior to applying to the Resident. 
    • Not applying Lotion to Resident. 
    • Not wiping off Excess Lotion from Resident’s
    • Not Assisting Resident in moving onto their side. 
    • Not Supporting extremities at the Joint when lifting. 
    • Not securing Resident’s Fingers or extremities when dressing with Gown. 
    • Not Protecting Bed Linens during Bed Bath.
    • Not providing Resident with Call Light.
    • Not ensuring bed is left in the lowest position. 
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