An lifting apparatus for elevating a selected end portion (e.g., head or foot) of a bed frame is fully removable from the bed frame so that it can be added quickly to either end of the bed frame or to a different bed frame. This is accomplished by providing a single removable connection between the feet of the bed frame and receptacles at opposed end portions of a support beam. The support beam member has opposed ends with the receptacles and an elevated portion with an underside that receives extendable portions of a pair of screw jacks. A reversible motor drive and an interface are provided so that rotation of the single motor drive in a selected direction operates both jacks to simultaneously move the beam member and the bed frame between minimum and maximum elevational positions. The user is provided with a control that operates the motor drive, the control having "up", "down" and "stop" control positions. An electrical cable interfaces the control with the motor drive.