Summary Turning and positioning patients in the palliative care setting can be made safer for both the patient and caregiver through the use of turning and positioning assist devices. Health professionals responsible for providing palliative care should investigate, where practical, what aiding devices are available and which devices might be appropriate in their setting. Risk related to turning and positioning palliative care patients can also be reduced through application of appropriate bed support surfaces. When considering the right surface, a full patient assessment should be conducted to match the patient’s need with the best surface available. All palliative care patients should have at least a high-specification foam mattress such as memory foam. For those patients at greater risk of developing pressure ulcers or who might be difficult to turn and position, more sophisticated powered surfaces should be considered. FIS surfaces provide a good option for application in palliative care environments. Through an understanding and application of available technology, a higher quality of bed care can be delivered to palliative care patients.