An inclination adjusting linkage arrangement is disclosed for an open care bed or infant warmer having a mattress supported on a mattress base cantilevered from a columnar or vertically disposed "back bone". The mattress base includes a box like frame over which a sheet is stretched to provide tensioned support for a mattress. Adjustment of the angle of inclination of the mattress base is made possible by the use of a non-parallel arm type system providing a virtual pivot point for the mattress base which may be positioned near the center of the mattress.