I believe "changing the linens" refers to making the beds, changing the sheets. It's a bit old fashioned - I haven't heard it in decades it seems, but once upon a time people referred to the sheets and pillowcases as "linens". When people were sick, it was traditional to change their linens, on the theory that the sheets might have germs. I'm not sure about the "shirt", which would not be normally considered a "linen" unless it was actually made of linen, which it usually is not.