How to Find a Great Mattress for an Elderly Person

Everyone wants comfort when they sleep. However, for elderly people who deal with the challenges of an aging body, comfort may be harder to come by. This means that finding the right bed is even more important.

So, how can you find the mattress that meets your needs? Here are a few tips you can use as you shop for a new mattress.

Make Sure You Can Get Out

Softer seems like it would always be a better choice in mattresses, but this isn’t always true. If you have trouble getting in and out of a soft bed, then choosing a soft mattress may damage your body or make bedtime a stressful experience.

Pillow top mattresses raise the bed’s height, which often makes it easier to slide out of bed. In contrast, pillow-top mattresses can also make the mattress too tall, which is a problem if a person has mobility issues.

Try Newer Technology

Old-fashioned coil spring mattresses are no longer the only option for bedding. Many modern choices offer a more comfortable, softer, or more flexible night’s sleep. Here are three of the most popular choices for older Americans.

Memory Foam

This is probably one of the more difficult new mattress types for older people to get used to, and it may take a few nights or longer to adjust to. However, the foam mattress can provide support where it’s needed and reduce hardness on sore joints. If the bed is shared, then this mattress can help reduce movement between restless partners. It may be warmer than other mattress types as well.

Latex

Made from rubber, latex mattresses are a little less off-putting for those used to traditional coil spring models. They may help people who are sensitive to allergens because the material doesn’t cater to dust mites like older mattresses. Like memory foam, they conform well to bodies, but they may be too soft, which could make it difficult to get in and out of bed.

Adjustable Beds

Do you need more help than a straight, flat mattress provides? Look for an adjustable bed. Often referred to as a hospital bed, these models have motors that raise either end of the bed as well as the whole height. You can find models where both sides can be adjusted differently to ease different aches and pains.

Regardless of your mattress needs, you may find it worthwhile to go to a store and try out different types of mattresses. When you try each of the mattress types out, you’ll have a better idea of what you like.

Test It Out

No matter what type of mattress you choose, you’ll make a big mistake if you fail to thoroughly test it by sleeping in it for a while. Simply feeling, sitting on, or even laying on a mattress in the store will only give you limited impressions. It will not help you know what the mattress will feel like when your body has spent hours laying on it.

Ask your equipment provider what type of trial period you can choose and keep notes about specific issues in case you decide the mattress you choose is not right for you.

Add Accessories

Some problems with mobility can be resolved by opting for bed accessories. Stand-alone guardrails, for instance, are simple and easy to install between a solid mattress and its box spring or frame. They can provide help getting out of bed and may help those who are at risk of falling at night.

A solid bed frame can also help control the height of the mattress. Be sure to measure the heights of frames with your planned mattresses as a set.

For help finding the best hospital bed and mattress, come see us at Corner Home Medical. We offer specialized overlays and support surfaces for use on hospital beds. We have decades of experience helping older people or people with mobility issues get a better night’s sleep.