Abstract: A bed for a hospital or the like, method of making same, and components therefor are provided wherein such bed comprises a mattress assembly, a bottom sheet covering the mattress assembly, a waterproof layer covering the central portion of the bottom sheet, and a cover over such layer wherein the layer has tails extending from its opposite ends and cover comprises a water-absorbent pad which also has tails extending from its opposite ends; and the tails are adapted to be disposed under the mattress assembly to hold the layer and pad securely on the bottom sheet with the layer and pad being readily removable from the bed for laundering thereof by pulling the tails from under the mattress assembly.