A tilt bed for assisting a patient to a standing position comprises a frame, a tilting mechanism, a mattress support plate, a mattress, and a foot support. The tilting mechanism attaches to the frame. The tilting mechanism is movable between a generally horizontal position, and a generally vertical position. The foot support is fixedly mounted to the tilting mechanism. The main portion of the mattress and the patient thereon moves closer to the foot support during tilting of the bed from the generally horizontal position to the generally vertical position, and the main portion of the mattress and the patient thereon moves distal the foot support during tilting of the bed from the generally vertical position to the generally horizontal position in a low shear manner.