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It's not bad but bad enough. He has heart issues and lung issues. He has copd, emphysemia, icd/defibrilator. He isn't doing much on the fitted sheet, but when he does, it is just very smelly and messy. Of course, I change them, but is there a way I can do this without having to change the sheets daily? He is 83 and able to dress, bathe, etc. by himself. He is on oxygen 24/7. I am retired, so I can be there for him.

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How about a flat sheet spread over his side of the bed, maybe a waterproof backed one? You could strip that off more easily than having to remake the whole bed. Flushable wipes?
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I owned several small mattress pads and placed them on top of the sheet. If it wasn't soiled (and most days it was not) I left it in place when I made the bed. If it was I replaced it with a fresh one, and washed the dirty one.

I now use these pads myself if I am sick. Washing a small pad is much easier than remaking the entire bed.

I got mine at Target. I think they are readily available where sheets and mattress pads are sold.
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Bed chucks to avoid having to wash sheets so often.
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I'm not quite sure what you mean by dirty sheets? Is he drooling or incontinent? Are you amenable to a twin bed next to the 'marital bed'? Perhaps he could sleep there. It's a lot easier to change twin sheets than double/queen/king! Also, the answers are good above.

How about (this is going to sound crazy) but what about putting three sheets on the bed, each one with a layer of heavy duty pads between them, then as he stains each sheet layer, you can just take that top sheet off, throw out the heavy duty pad, (or perhaps layer it with several pads) and you have the next sheet on. That way you make the bed once in several layers?

I'd also tell him (not ask him) to wear adult pants to bed. Don't call them diapers. Just buy then, show them they look like underwear, tell him how hard it is for you to change these sheets, and tell him he's going to wear them?

In 'homes' this is what they do. There is no choice. My mother, who has in the unit up north for five weeks was in adult underwear. I thought she was incontinent. She was not. For fourteen months she's been wearing underwear and just recently started to leak a bit. Now that she's in rehab again, they've got her in adult undergarments.

We have to look at the realty of the situation. Be practical. Taking care of someone is hard in and of itself. There should be no need to have to change sheets all the time if the problem can be solved by wearing adult underwear.

If he's cognizant, suggest to him that HE change the sheets because you're not doing it anymore and you're going to sleep on the couch. I guarantee he'll wear adult underwear to bed. BTW, if they are clean in the morning, you can use them again at night.
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I put the chuck on top of the sheet. The point is to avoid having to strip the bed to wash the sheets. Yes, I use the washable kind, and they are much more comfortable than the disposable ones. Check them out on Amazon, there are a variety of sizes available.
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You can actually buy depends that are colored like regular underwear. Maybe if you can just produce those and not mention they are disposables he will be willing to wear them "just in case" My hubby wears them all the time after his prostatectomy made him incontinent of urine. he never missed a beat and takes care of everything himself. You would never know they are depends when he is wearing them they look so like underwear. He puts a Guards inside if he is having a particularly wet day.
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Hospitals used to take a second flat sheet, fold it in half and lay it crosswise on the bed to keep the middle clean. Try that.
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Fancicoffee57, because your hubby doesn't like wearing Depends, you are forced to do more laundry. That doesn't sound right, does it.

Since he is of sound mind, according to your post, tell him doing all this laundry is too exhausting for you. What does HE suggest? I know for myself I don't mind shoving the sheets into the washer/dryer, but how I dread putting them back on the bed, especially dealing with the bottom fitted sheet :P
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For honeybj Try 20 Mule Team borax in with your wash. I use with a dry detergent, but that is just the way my washer is set up. Also, then use whatever soak cycle your washer has. Hope this helps!
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I bought a waterproof pad for our bed at Walmart for about $10, and it washes. It is large enough to cover the area where your husband lies. Try that (mine is for our youngest doggie who leaks). FYI - Emphysema is a type of COPD, and chronic bronchitis is the other.
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