Before you begin a bed bath, make sure you have a huge pile of clean, dry bath towels and clean, dry washcloths, at least a dozen of each. Also, there should be a table or shelf within easy reach to hold a water container and supplies. A wheeled cart -- such as a basic TV or kitchen cart -- is ideal. Finally, adjust the room temperature so it's toasty warm.

• Lay thick bath towels under the person from head to toe. These are to absorb water, protecting the bedding and mattress. You might want to also use a waterproof sheet under the cloth sheet to ensure that the mattress stays dry.
• Undress her but keep her under a blanket or large towel. This covering stays on during the whole bath for both warmth and privacy.
• Fill two large bowls with warm water, one for washing and one for rinsing. Put the bowls within easy reach.
• Stand at her shoulder. You'll be washing down one side of her body, section by section, lifting the cover away only as much as necessary. It helps to tilt her up on the side a little, facing away from you, so you can reach underneath her body. Start with her shoulder, then her arm and hand, including the fingers. Move to the side of her torso and hips, then wash her thigh, lower leg, foot, and toes.
• The washing itself is straightforward: Soap then rinse, using a different washcloth for each. Rinse sufficiently to get all the soap off. (Soap residue is drying to the skin, and elderly skin is prone to dryness.) Refill the water bowls as needed. Make sure the temperature of the water stays warm to the touch. When washing, stroke in the direction of the heart, toward the torso, to help blood circulation.
• After a section is rinsed, pat it dry with a towel and lay the cover down as quickly as you can for warmth.
• After you've finished one side of the body, start at the other shoulder and work down. Afterward, move to the head and neck. This is a great time to shampoo, which is easiest with a soft plastic bed bath shampoo bowl, sold at hospital or medical supply stores. The shampoo bowl can be placed right on the mattress, and all you need to do is lift or edge your family member's head into it. (Don't leave her unattended for even a few seconds when a bowl of water is near her head.) If you don't have a shampoo bowl, lay dry towels under her head and do the best you can with your bowls of water, soaping and rinsing. Consider using baby shampoo, which rinses out easily.
• Save the privates for last. Do these quickly, lifting the cover only as much as necessary to soap and rinse. With a man, you'll need to wash under his testicles. With a woman, wash the labia; there's no need for a deep cleaning. To reach the rear, tilt the person's body to the side as much as you need to or can. Or you can bend her knees and reach under from the front.
• When you're done, the person's entire body should remain covered with the blanket or towel. If it's damp, exchange it for a dry one. You may need to add another layer. Slowly pull the wet towels from under her body.
• Take a deep breath and relax before dressing her. Giving a bed bath is a bona fide workout, and you've earned a break.