A method of positioning an occupant (98) of a bed includes identifying (204) the presence of a discrepancy between an existing occupant position and a target occupant position, and establishing (206) an elevation gradient having a direction, magnitude and position compatible with moving the occupant from the existing occupant position to the target position. In one variant of the method the step of establishing an elevation gradient is one substep of a preordained sequence of bladder inflations and deflations. In another variant, the method includes determining (210) if the discrepancy has been corrected and responding to any noncorrection of the discrepancy. An associated bed (20) includes a mattress (82) at least one layer (100) of repositioning bladders (102, 104, 106, 108) a sensor array (130) a controller (140) and a pump (142). The controller is capable of receiving information from the sensor array (130) identifying (204) suboptimal positioning of the occupant as a function of the received information and also capable of issuing commands in response to the identification of suboptimal positioning, in particular commands for the pump (142) to inflate selected repositioning bladders, thereby urging the occupant from his or her existing position to the target position.
