Bedridden patients use bedpans, urinals, adult briefs, catheters, or bedside commodes depending on how much they can move and whether they have control over their bladder and bowels. If you’re caring for someone who can’t get up, the right method depends on their specific situation, and most people end up using a combination of these options throughout the day.
Bedpans and Urinals
For someone who still knows when they need to go but can’t get out of bed, a bedpan or urinal is the most common solution. A bedpan is a shallow, oblong pan slid underneath the patient’s hips. The patient either lifts their hips (if they’re able) or is rolled onto it by a caregiver. Standard bedpans are made of hard plastic, and honestly, they’re not comfortable. In studies, 83% of women reported physical discomfort using a traditional bedpan, and 59% had difficulty with removal.
Handheld urinals are a simpler option for urination only. Men’s urinals have been around for a long time, but female urinals are increasingly available and strongly preferred by women who’ve tried both. In one study, 81.5% of women rated a female urinal as more comfortable than a bedpan, and over 90% said they’d recommend it. If the person you’re caring for primarily needs help with urination rather than bowel movements, a urinal is worth trying first.
Newer designs can make a real difference in comfort. Inflatable bedpans are softer and easier to position. Disposable urinals reduce cleanup and offer more dignity. In clinical settings, 80% of healthcare professionals recommended disposable designs over traditional ones, citing less pain for patients and a lighter workload for caregivers.
Bedside Commodes
If the person can sit up and transfer out of bed with help, even briefly, a bedside commode is a much better option than a bedpan. It’s essentially a portable toilet chair placed right next to the bed. Sitting upright on a commode is more natural and comfortable, makes bowel movements easier, and preserves more dignity than lying flat on a bedpan.
Setup matters for safety. Keep the commode close to the bed but against a wall so it won’t slide. Lock the wheels if it has them. Clear clutter from the path between the bed and the commode, and make sure the person wears non-slip footwear. When helping them transfer, have them lean forward before standing, then slowly turn and step backward to the commode. They should reach back and hold both armrests as they sit. Keep toilet paper and damp wipes within arm’s reach so everything is ready before the transfer.
Catheters for Urination
When someone can’t control their bladder at all, or when using a bedpan isn’t practical due to pain or immobility, a catheter may be needed. There are three main types, each suited to different situations.
An indwelling catheter (sometimes called a Foley catheter) is a thin tube inserted into the bladder and held in place by a small internal balloon. Urine drains continuously into a bag. These are typically recommended for short-term use, usually two weeks or less, and rarely beyond 30 days. They carry real risks with prolonged use, including urinary tract infections, bladder stones, and tissue damage from the tube itself.
Intermittent catheterization involves inserting a catheter several times a day to empty the bladder, then removing it each time. This is the preferred method for long-term bladder management in people with spinal cord injuries or neurological conditions, because it carries a lower infection risk than leaving a catheter in place permanently.
External catheters are an option for men with incontinence. These are condom-like sheaths that fit over the penis and connect to a drainage bag. They don’t enter the body, which makes them lower-risk overall. The main complications are skin-related: irritation, moisture damage, or swelling on the penile shaft if the device fits poorly or stays on too long. Unfortunately, no equivalent external collection device exists for women, though newer designs are in development.
Adult Briefs and Underpads
For patients with moderate to heavy incontinence, particularly those with limited awareness or cognitive impairment, adult briefs (often called adult diapers) provide continuous protection. They’re typically appropriate for people leaking 3.75 cups or more per day, or for anyone with bowel incontinence. Briefs need to be checked and changed regularly to prevent skin problems.
Underpads, sometimes called chux, are absorbent sheets placed underneath the patient on the bed. They protect the mattress and linens and are often used alongside briefs as a backup layer. They come in different absorbency levels, so start with a light-to-moderate pad and increase if needed. Many caregivers use both a brief and an underpad together for overnight protection.
How to Roll a Patient for Changes
Changing a brief or placing a bedpan under someone who can’t lift their hips requires rolling them onto their side. The safest technique is the log roll, which keeps the spine aligned throughout the movement. In a hospital, this involves multiple staff members coordinating their movements on a count. At home, the same principle applies on a smaller scale.
Stand on the side you’ll be rolling the patient toward. Bend their far knee if possible to help with the turn. Roll them gently toward you, keeping their shoulders and hips moving together so the spine doesn’t twist. Once they’re on their side, you can clean, place or remove a bedpan, change a brief, or position an underpad. Then roll them back. If the person is heavy or has any spinal concerns, having a second person help is important for both your safety and theirs.
Preventing Skin Breakdown
Skin that stays in contact with urine or stool breaks down quickly. This condition, called incontinence-associated dermatitis, causes redness, pain, and open sores, and it’s one of the most common complications for bedridden patients. The good news: using a structured skincare routine cuts the odds of developing it nearly in half.
The routine has two steps. First, clean the skin after every episode of incontinence. Use a no-rinse cleanser or pH-neutral incontinence wipes rather than regular soap, which strips the skin’s natural protective barrier. Second, apply a moisture barrier product to keep urine and stool from making direct contact with the skin. Petroleum jelly, zinc oxide cream, and dimethicone-based barrier creams all work. Apply a thin layer after each cleaning. Some clinical protocols call for barrier cream application three times daily at minimum, with additional application after every incontinence episode.
Managing Constipation
Immobility slows the digestive system significantly, making constipation one of the most persistent problems for bedridden patients. Preventing it is far easier than treating it once it sets in.
Prune juice and whole prunes are surprisingly effective. In a clinical trial, eating about 12 prunes twice daily (roughly 50 grams each time) produced one extra bowel movement per week and improved stool consistency compared to fiber supplements alone. Pear and apple juice also contain sorbitol, a natural sugar alcohol that draws water into the bowel. If adding fiber to the diet, soluble fiber like psyllium works better than insoluble fiber like bran, and it should be increased gradually, about 5 grams per week, up to 20 to 30 grams daily to avoid bloating.
One important exception: for bedridden patients specifically, bulk-forming fiber supplements (the kind you mix with water) are often not recommended. They require drinking a full glass of water with each dose and can cause problems for people with swallowing difficulties or fluid restrictions. For bedridden patients who don’t respond to dietary changes, an osmotic laxative is typically the next step. If that’s still not enough, a stimulant laxative used up to three times per week is generally considered safe for ongoing use. Patients taking opioid pain medications, which are notorious for causing constipation, may need daily stimulant laxatives.
Choosing the Right Approach
The best method depends on three factors: how much the person can move, whether they have bladder and bowel control, and how much help is available. Someone who is temporarily bedridden after surgery but mentally alert and able to communicate might do well with a urinal for daytime use and a bedpan or commode for bowel movements. A person with advanced dementia who is unaware of the need to go will likely need adult briefs with regular scheduled changes. Someone with a spinal cord injury might use intermittent catheterization for their bladder and a scheduled bowel program with their care team.
Most caregivers find that the ideal setup involves multiple tools. A urinal on the bedside table for quick access, briefs for overnight security, underpads as backup, and a commode for bowel movements if any transfer ability remains. Comfort and dignity matter enormously here. If one approach isn’t working, or the person you’re caring for is in pain or embarrassed, it’s worth trying alternatives rather than assuming the first option is the only one.