Written and maintained by CASRAI Editorial Board
Published · Last updated
This page describes products and general use; it is not medical advice.
On this page
Short answer: aids for getting out of bed range from a lower or height-adjustable bed to a bed-mounted transfer bar, handgrips, a floor-to-ceiling pole or an overhead lifting pole. The FDA Hospital Bed Safety Workgroup defines each of these, and says the choice belongs inside an individual assessment and care plan. Who uses them: patients and residents, family caregivers, nurses, therapists and equipment suppliers.
What counts as an aid for getting out of bed
An aid for getting in and out of bed is a device or bed feature that gives a person something to hold, a lower starting height, or a safer landing. The FDA workgroup guidance groups the hold-and-push devices under transfer device: “support for transfers such as half- or quarter-length upper bed rails, bed grab bars, bed handles attached to the bed frame, or fireman’s transfer pole.” Bed rails themselves “can facilitate turning and repositioning within the bed or transferring in or out of a bed.”
Types of aids and how the FDA workgroup defines them
| Aid | Definition (FDA Hospital Bed Safety Workgroup, 2003) | Key difference |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer bar | A one-piece device, attached to the bed frame on one or both sides of the bed, that is grasped to aid in bed entry and exit. | Fixed to the frame; built for entry and exit |
| Handgrips | Devices attached to either side of the bed that let the person reposition in bed and also aid entering and leaving the bed. | Covers repositioning as well as exit |
| Fireman’s pole | A pole secured with floor and ceiling mooring next to the bed that acts as a support for getting into and out of the bed. | Anchored to floor and ceiling, not to the bed |
| Lifting pole | A device suspended above the bed that lets the patient change position by gripping it. | Overhead; aimed at changing position in bed |
| Half- or quarter-length upper bed rail | Listed in the guidance as a transfer device. | Doubles as a rail, so entrapment checks apply |
| Low bed | “Low” when, sitting on the side of the bed with feet on the floor, the angle of the bent knees is 90 degrees or less. | Lowers the starting height instead of adding a handhold |
| Low bed that can be elevated electronically | Listed as an alternative: a low bed that can be raised for transfers and activities of daily living care. | Height changes between resting and transferring |
For the overhead option in detail, see the guide to the hospital bed trapeze. For height-changing beds, see hi-lo beds.
Related bed features the workgroup lists
The workgroup lists several environmental alternatives and additions that can be part of an individual assessment: a low bed with an adjacent mat, a low bed that raises electronically, a call bell within reach, a bed alarm, a mattress with raised edges and a trapeze. See bed alarms and fall mats for two of these.
Why the same aid can help one person and put another at risk
The guidance quotes federal surveyor guidance that partial rails “may assist one resident to enter and exit the bed independently while acting as a restraint for another.” It states that the decision to use or remove bed rails should occur within an individual patient assessment, and that rail use as a hand-hold for getting into or out of bed should be accompanied by a care plan. The interdisciplinary team it describes can include the patient, family, nursing, the attending physician, rehabilitation and occupational therapists, and medical equipment suppliers.
Safety: entrapment and compatibility
The workgroup defines entrapment as an event in which a patient is caught, trapped or entangled in the spaces in or about the bed rail, mattress or bed frame, and notes it can result in serious injury or death. FDA’s consumer page on adult portable bed rails (checked 2026-11-01) adds:
- Some people are at higher risk of entrapment, falls or other injury from adult portable bed rails, including people with confusion, restlessness, lack of muscle control or cognitive impairment.
- Check whether the portable rails comply with ASTM F3186-17; not all bed rails fit all size beds.
- The bed frame, rail and mattress should leave no gap wide enough to entrap a head or body. Soft or air mattresses, mattress pads and waterbeds can create gaps.
- The safety strap or rail retention system should be permanently attached to the rail and secured to the frame following the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Alternatives to rails include roll guards, foam bumpers, lowering the bed near the floor, concave mattresses and a bed trapeze. Rails should not replace proper monitoring.
Related reading on rail gaps and entrapment guidance: bed rail covers.
What to verify before buying or renting
- That an assessment has been done and a care plan covers the aid (FDA Hospital Bed Safety Workgroup).
- That the aid fits the bed, mattress and frame in use, as the manufacturer states (FDA consumer page).
- For portable rails, whether they comply with ASTM F3186-17 (FDA consumer page).
- That the retention strap or system is attached as the manufacturer instructs (FDA consumer page).
- Any weight limit, installation or use instruction in the manufacturer’s instructions for use.
Common mistakes
- Treating a rail as a harmless handhold without checking the gaps between rail, mattress and frame.
- Adding a soft mattress or pad to a bed with portable rails without rechecking those gaps.
- Using a rail in place of monitoring.
- Choosing an aid before an assessment, so a device that helps one person is used for someone it does not suit.
FAQ
What are aids to help get out of bed?
The FDA workgroup names transfer bars, handgrips, a fireman’s pole, a lifting pole, partial-length rails and low or height-adjustable beds. See the table above.
Does the guidance pick aids by age, for example help for the elderly getting out of bed?
No. The workgroup guidance ties the decision to an individual patient assessment and a care plan, not to age. The fit of the aid with the bed and mattress is a separate check.
What is a low bed?
The workgroup calls a bed low when, with the person sitting on the side of the bed with feet on the floor, the angle of the bent knees is 90 degrees or less.
Can the same aid suit one person and not another?
Yes. The guidance quotes surveyor guidance that partial rails may assist one resident to enter and exit the bed independently while acting as a restraint for another.
Where can I read about the overhead option and transfer equipment?
See the guides to the hospital bed trapeze and the transfer board.
Sources
- FDA Hospital Bed Safety Workgroup, Clinical Guidance for the Assessment and Implementation of Bed Rails in Hospitals, Long Term Care Facilities, and Home Care Settings, April 2003, https://www.fda.gov/media/88765/download (checked 2026-11-01). The document describes itself as educational guidance.
- FDA, Recommendations for Consumers and Caregivers About Adult Portable Bed Rails, https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/adult-portable-bed-rail-safety/recommendations-consumers-and-caregivers-about-adult-portable-bed-rails (checked 2026-11-01).
