Bedfast Definition: Which statement is true?

• A. Patient confined to bed by physician or inability.
• B. Patient who can ambulate with assistance.
• C. Patient who uses wheelchair but can transfer.
• D. Patient who is independent.

Answer: (A)

Bedfast means the patient is confined to bed due to illness or a physician’s order and cannot get out of bed without assistance. This describes someone whose mobility is so limited that leaving the bed is not possible or requires someone else. Ambulating with assistance means the person can move about, so they’re not bedfast. Using a wheelchair but being able to transfer shows some mobility beyond staying in bed. Being independent indicates no functional mobility limitations. In home health assessments, identifying bedfast status guides care planning, safety, and the level of assistance needed.