We all understand the importance of a good night’s sleep. But as we age, natural changes in our sleep cycle and the increasing prevalence of chronic health conditions can make getting a restful night of sleep more difficult.
Your mattress matters. The right bed—one that suits the unique needs of seniors—can mean the difference between a full 8 to 9 hours of sleep or a restless night of uncomfortable tossing and turning.
We’ve picked our top best mattresses for seniors and outlined what makes these beds the best choice for adults over the age of 65. We also highlight the challenges seniors face when it comes to getting a good night’s sleep and take a look at the most important mattress purchase considerations for seniors.
Product Details
Best Overall
Luxury Firm WinkBed
Price Range: $1,149 - $2,049
Mattress Type: Innerspring
Firmness: Medium Firm (6)
Trial length: 120 nights (30 night requirement)
Warranty: Lifetime, Limited
Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
Who it's best for:
- Those suffering from back and hip pain
- Seniors who weigh 230 pounds or less
- Hot sleepers
Highlights:
- Excellent pain and pressure relief
- Medium firm Euro-top hybrid design offers cushioning and responsiveness in equal measure
- Strong edge support makes it easier to get in and out of bed
Get $300 off all mattresses
The WinkBed is an innerspring mattress with an impressive array of features and options. The mattress is available in four firmness options, including the Luxury Firm WinkBed that offers a balanced medium firm (6) feel for seniors who enjoy cushioning for their body but also need a fair amount of support.
The mattress is made with a thick comfort system that consists of multiple foam layers that contour evenly without sinking too much. This level of conforming promotes spinal alignment, and offers moderate pressure point relief and excellent lumbar support for seniors. For this reason, we consider the Luxury Firm WinkBed a worthwhile option for seniors with back pain. The mattress is also a good option for couples because of its ability to minimize motion transfer.
The coil-based support system provides a slight bounce, while keeping sleepers cool due to superior airflow through the mattress. As a result, the Luxury Firm WinkBed has excellent temperature regulation. The coils are also zoned to reinforce the midsection and reduce perimeter sinkage.
WinkBeds ship for free anywhere in the contiguous United States. The Luxury Firm WinkBed is also protected with a 120-night sleep trial and a lifetime warranty.
Best Value
Nectar Mattress
Price Range: $399 - $1,138
Mattress Type: Foam
Firmness: Medium Firm (6)
Trial length: 365 nights
Warranty: Lifetime, Limited
Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King, Split King
Who it's best for:
- Shoppers on a budget
- People who wake up with sharp pressure points
- Couples
Highlights:
- Above-average motion isolation
- Body-hugging memory foam helps reduce pressure buildup
- 365-night sleep trial and lifetime warranty
$699 SPECIAL OFFER! $200 Off + $499 in Accessories Included!
The Nectar Mattress is made from body-hugging memory foam engineered to minimize aches and pains associated with pressure buildup. The flagship Nectar Sleep model has a modest price-point, making it a great option for value seekers.
The mattress is an all-foam design with a medium firm (6) feel, which is one of the most popular firmness levels for sleepers. At 12 inches thick, the mattress shouldn’t require sheets with extra-deep pockets. A breathable knit cover made from polyester, nylon, and polyethylene encases the entire mattress. The quilted pattern gives the cover a plush feel.
Aside from the cover, the mattress features three distinct layers. A 3-inch comfort layer of memory foam cradles the body and alleviates pressure points without sinking too much. The foam also incorporates gel infusions intended to dissipate excess heat.
Next is a layer of transitional polyfoam that offers some bounce while preventing sleepers from sinking into the core. The 7-inch support base is made from high-density polyfoam that is meant to reinforce the top layers and stabilize the mattress. The all-foam design also ensures excellent motion isolation and little to no transfer across the surface, which can benefit anyone whose sleep is disrupted by their partner’s movements.
Nectar Sleep offers free shipping to the contiguous U.S. and delivers to Alaska and Hawaii for a fee. The company allows customers to try out its mattresses for 365 nights, which is a longer-than-average sleep trial. The Nectar Mattress is also backed by a limited lifetime warranty that covers manufacturing and material defects.
Most Comfortable
DreamCloud Mattress
Price Range: $799 - $1,499
Mattress Type: Hybrid
Firmness: Medium Firm (6)
Trial length: 365 nights (30-night requirement)
Warranty: Lifetime, limited
Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
Who it's best for:
- Side sleepers who weigh up to 230 pounds
- Hot sleepers
- People looking to minimize pressure buildup
Highlights:
- Memory foam and quilted pillow-top provide excellent cushion
- Cashmere blend cover feels soft to the touch
- 365-day sleep trial and lifetime warranty
$799 special offer! $200 off mattresses + $599 in premium accessories included
The DreamCloud Mattress is a hybrid bed with a foam and coil design. With a quilted cover made from a cashmere blend fabric, this bed is likely to satisfy sleepers who prioritize beds that feel cool and comfortable.
The bed has a medium firm (6) feel and begins with a layer of gel-infused memory foam that conforms closely to the body. The cover is quilted with polyfoam to further enhance the plush feel of the surface. Beneath is a transition layer of polyfoam that is firmer than the memory foam but still offers ample contouring, followed by pocketed boils that comprise the support core. The bed should sleep fairly cool, thanks to the air circulation enabled by the coil system. The gel infusion in the foam is also meant to minimize heat retention, while the cashmere blend fabric naturally absorbs excess heat.
If you are a side sleeper who weighs up to 230 pounds, this bed should feel quite comfortable. The cushioned comfort layer provides excellent relief to the shoulders and hips for people who sleep in this position, while the coils offer sufficient support for the lower back. Back sleepers should also receive enough support to keep their backs on an even plane, while the plush surface minimizes pressure buildup along the spine.
DreamCloud offers a generous 365-night trial and lifetime warranty with this mattress. The company also provides free shipping within the contiguous U.S.
Best for Side Sleepers
Helix Midnight Luxe
Price Range: $1,199 - $2,499
Mattress Type: Hybrid
Firmness: Medium Firm (6)
Trial length: 100 nights (30-night requirement)
Warranty: 15 Year, Limited
Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
Who it's best for:
- Side and back sleepers up to 230 pounds
- People who experience painful pressure points during sleep
- Couples
Highlights:
- Five-layer design provides even balance of cushion and support
- Pocketed coils provide extra support to lumbar region
- Excellent motion isolation
Get up to $350 off + 2 free Dream Pillows
Helix produces a wide array of mattress models to accommodate a variety of body types and sleep preferences. The Helix Midnight Luxe is a hybrid bed that provides an even balance of cushion and support. Building upon the basic Midnight model, the Luxe is designed with enhanced lumbar support that can help sleepers who are experiencing pain or discomfort in the lower back.
The bed is a 14-inch model with a medium firm (6) feel. Two comfort layers of memory foam cradle the body closely, followed by an inch of transitional polyfoam that provides cushion but is also firm enough to keep the body from sinking into the support core. With a quilted pillow-top that further enhances the plush surface, the foam layers provide excellent cushion to help avoid pressure buildup in areas like the shoulders, hips, and spine. Meanwhile the support core contains pocketed coils with a zoned design that bolsters support to the lower back to prevent unhealthy spinal alignment.
This model caters especially to side sleepers, who benefit from cushioned surfaces more than other sleep positions. Side sleepers put pressure on the shoulders and hips and need a surface that prevents pressure buildup in these areas. Some back sleepers may also find this bed quite comfortable, thanks to the supportive design. Side and back sleepers who weigh over 230 pounds may find the bed is too soft to provide sufficient support.
Helix offers a 100-night sleep trial with this mattress as well as a 15-year warranty. Shipping is free throughout all 50 states.
Best Luxury
Saatva Classic
Price Range: $935 - $2,450
Mattress Type: Innerspring
Firmness: Soft (3), Medium Firm (6), Firm (8)
Trial length: 365 Nights ($99 Return Fee)
Warranty: Lifetime, Limited
Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, Split King, California King, Split California King
Who it's best for:
- Hot sleepers
- People with lower back pain
- Anyone who needs or wants assistance setting up their new mattress
Highlights:
- Multiple firmness and thickness options to suit different types of sleepers
- Innovative coil-on-coil design offers excellent support and breathability
- Free White Glove delivery for all orders in the contiguous U.S.
Buy more, save more. Up to $500 off.
The Saatva Classic is a luxury hybrid mattress, but an affordable price-point and additional perks for buyers make this model appealing to shoppers with limited budgets. The Classic features a Euro-top cushioned with foam and fiber fill, followed by transitional minicoils and an hourglass coil support core. This coil-on-coil design ensures strong support and consistent airflow to keep you cool.
Customers can choose from three firmness levels. During our hands-on tests, the soft (3) feel was most popular with side sleepers up to 230 pounds, and back and stomach sleepers under 130 pounds. This model contours closely to cushion the spine and alleviate pressure in the shoulders, lower back, and hips. Those seeking a more balanced feel should opt for the medium firm (6) feel, which received favorable ratings from our side and back sleepers up to 230 pounds. Lastly, the firm (8) feel is most supportive and well suited to back and stomach sleepers weighing at least 130 pounds.
You can also choose between 11.5-inch and 14.5-inch profiles. The latter has a thicker hourglass coil system, and ideal for people who need extra support while they sleep. Another notable feature of the Classic is a strip of memory foam located beneath the lower back. This component is intended to reduce pressure in the lumbar region and hips. A cover made of breathable organic cotton encases the entire mattress.
In addition to the accessible price-point, Saatva Classic buyers residing in the contiguous U.S. receive free White Glove delivery with their purchase. This service includes a scheduled delivery date and time, full assembly in a room of their choice, and removal of their old mattress and box spring upon request. Saatva’s sleep trial spans an entire year, and those who keep their classic also receive a lifetime warranty against structural defects.
Best for Back Pain
Firmer WinkBed
Price Range: $1,149 - $2,049
Mattress Type: Innerspring
Firmness: Firm (7)
Trial length: 120 nights (30 night requirement)
Warranty: Lifetime, Limited
Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
Who it's best for:
- Hot sleepers
- Sleepers with back pain
- People who have trouble getting in or out of bed
Highlights:
- Plushly layered Euro-top provides deep cushioning
- Coils are zoned for extra reinforcement around the midsection and along the perimeter
- Internal airflow through coils regulates temperature
Get $300 off all mattresses
The Firmer WinkBed is constructed with a comfort system that moderately conforms to the body, and a zoned support core. This combination is beneficial for sleepers with back pain who need extra support to promote spinal alignment.
The Firmer WinkBed’s construction begins with a quilted Euro-top featuring a layer of gel-infused polyfoam. This gives the surface a plush initial feel, while the cooling gel is meant to keep you cool. Underneath is a layer of SupportCell polyfoam that prevents you from sinking too deeply into the mattress. This layer also acts as a buffer between the comfort layer above and the coils.
The support core contains pocketed coils that move independently when compressed, offering targeted support to heavier areas of the body. The coils are arranged in a zoned configuration with thicker springs beneath the midsection and along the perimeter. This limits sinkage across the sleep surface and along the edges without sacrificing gentle cradling for lighter areas of the body.
Our testing found the firm (7) feel benefited back and stomach sleepers, providing an even sleep surface and ample pushback to support the midsection. Side sleepers who weigh over 230 pounds may also appreciate the extra support. Hot sleepers should find the Firmer WinkBed particularly comfortable. The cover is composed of breathable Tencel material that wicks moisture away from the body. The coils also promote cooling by enabling steady airflow through the mattress’ interior.
Shipping is free for all orders in the contiguous U.S. The Firmer WinkBed comes with a 120-night trial period and a lifetime warranty.
Best Pressure Relief
Nolah Evolution 15
Price Range: $999 - $1,699
Mattress Type: Hybrid
Firmness: Medium (5), Medium Firm (6), Firm (8)
Trial length: 120 nights (30-night requirement)
Warranty: Lifetime, Limited
Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
Who it's best for:
- Hot sleepers
- People who struggle getting in and out bed
- Those looking for a hybrid with a relatively plush surface
Highlights:
- Three firmness options
- Zoned coils deliver enhanced support
- Comfort layers are composed of breathable foams that resist overheating
Get an additional $30 off the Nolah Evolution Mattress for total savings of $730 with code: SF730OFF
The Nolah Evolution 15 is sold in three firmness options: medium (5), medium firm (6), and firm (8). This selection makes the mattress a good option for most people regardless of their weight or sleep position. All three models feature thick comfort systems that significantly reduced pressure buildup during our tests.
Multiple foam layers contour evenly to distribute weight and eliminate pressure along the spine. The mattress uses proprietary foams engineered to dissipate – rather than absorb – heat, so people shouldn’t feel excessively warm on the Evolution 15. The support core contains pocketed coils that are zoned to reinforce the midsection and prevent excessive perimeter sinkage.
The Evolution 15 offers excellent temperature neutrality thanks to its heat-resistant foams, breathable cover, and consistent internal airflow. Sturdy edge support also eases the process of getting in and out of bed for people with mobility limitations.
Ground shipping is free for all orders in the contiguous U.S. The Evolution 15 is backed by a 120-night sleep trial that customers can opt out of to lower their up-front costs. All mattress purchases include a lifetime warranty against structural defects.
Best for Hip Pain
Birch Mattress
Price Range: $1,349 - $2,099
Mattress Type: Hybrid
Firmness: Medium Firm (6)
Trial length: 100 nights (30-night requirement)
Warranty: 25 Year, Limited
Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King
Who it's best for:
- Sleepers with sharp pressure points in their hips
- Couples
- Hot sleepers
Highlights:
- Reinforced perimeter provides excellent edge support
- Breathable wool, cotton, latex, and coils help reduce heat buildup
- Talalay latex gently cradles the body to alleviate pressure
SleepFoundation readers get $400 off a Birch Mattress.
The Birch Mattress’ latex hybrid design offers gentle cradling for pressure points while maintaining robust support to keep your body from sinking excessively. This combination makes the mattress a great choice for sleepers with hip pain, who often prefer responsive pressure relief.
A top layer made from an organic wool and rayon blend cushions the mattress’ surface. Underneath is a second layer of organic wool that acts as a natural fire barrier. Talalay latex slightly contours to the body to relieve pressure without causing uncomfortable sagging. Pocketed coils in the support core offer ample pushback to keep your body on an even plane. Meanwhile, a reinforced perimeter allows you to sit or lay closer to the edges without slipping off. A breathable cotton cover encases the mattress.
The Birch has a versatile medium firm (6) feel that earned praise from many of our testers. Side sleepers who weigh at least 130 pounds appreciated the cushioning for the shoulders and hips. Our team’s back sleepers between 130 and 230 pounds and stomach sleepers weighing up to 230 pounds found the surface supportive enough to keep their bodies on an even plane.
Pressure relief was the mattress’ standout feature, but it also performed well in other testing categories like ease of movement and temperature control. Like many other latex hybrids, the mattress is excellent at regulating temperature. This is primarily thanks to breathable components like cotton, wool, latex, and coils, which encourage airflow. The mattress has a bouncy feel that made it easy for our testers to move across the surface, which should appeal to couples who prefer a responsive bed for sex.
Birch offers free shipping to customers living in the contiguous U.S. Mattress purchases come with 100-night sleep trials, during which you can return the mattress for a full refund anytime after a 30-night break-in period. If you decide to keep the mattress, it comes with a 25-year warranty.
Best for Couples
Bear Elite Hybrid
Price Range: $1,721 - $3,565
Mattress Type: Hybrid
Firmness: Medium (5), Medium Firm (6), Firm (8)
Trial length: 120 nights (30-night break-in period)
Warranty: Lifetime warranty
Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King, Split King
Who it's best for:
- Hot sleepers
- People who carry extra weight in their torso and hips
- Couples who normally find hybrids too bouncy and disruptive for sleep
Highlights:
- Available in three firmness levels
- Cooling Celliant-blend cover minimizes heat buildup on the surface
- Zoned transitional layer reinforces heavier areas of the body
30% off sitewide, plus 2 free Cloud Pillows with mattress purchase
If you share your mattress with a partner, then you’ll need to take that person’s sleep needs into account as well as your own when choosing a new mattress. The Bear Elite Hybrid is a good match for most people thanks in large part to its versatility. Customers choose from three firmness levels: medium (5), medium firm (6), and firm (8). Each has distinct contouring and support levels to accommodate different types of sleepers.
The Elite Hybrid consists of a memory foam comfort layer, polyfoam transitional layer, and pocketed coil support core. The polyfoam is divided into five firmness zones intended to reinforce the chest, stomach, and hips while cradling lighter areas of the body. A cover made of breathable, heat-dissipating Celliant-blend fabric encases the entire mattress. For added temperature control, the memory foam is infused with cooling copper fibers.
During our tests, we found that the medium feel provides adequate contouring and cushioning for side and back sleepers up to 230 pounds. The medium firm and firm models offer more support, so these may be the more comfortable options for side and back sleepers who weigh more, as well as stomach sleepers. If you and your partner have different firmness preferences, consider the split king size designed for couples with adjustable beds. Customers can call or email Bear to arrange for each side of the split king to have a different firmness level.
Bear offers free ground shipping anywhere in the contiguous U.S. Customers can choose between two free pillows with their order, or paying extra for a sleep accessories bundle that includes the pillows along with a sheet set and mattress protector. The Elite Hybrid’s sleep trial runs 120 nights in length, and the mattress is further backed by a lifetime manufacturer’s warranty.
Best for Spinal Alignment
Tempur-Pedic TEMPUR-Cloud
Price Range: $1,699 - $3,398
Mattress Type: Foam
Firmness: Medium (5)
Trial length: 90 nights (30-night requirement)
Warranty: 10 Year, Limited
Sizes: Twin, Twin Long, Double, Queen, King, California King, Split King
Who it's best for:
- People who have trouble maintaining healthy sleep posture
- Side sleepers
- Couples who prioritize motion isolation
Highlights:
- TEMPUR memory foam comfort layers relieve pressure while helping maintain healthy alignment
- All-foam construction absorbs most movement transfer and noise
- High-density polyfoam support core prevents excessive sinkage
Save 30% on TEMPUR-Cloud & TEMPER-Cloud Hybrid mattresses with code: CLOUD30
Tempur-Pedic is known for its high-quality memory foam mattress, and the TEMPUR-Cloud is no exception. This mattress comes at a lower price-point than many of the brand’s other models, but it delivers substantial cushioning to improve spinal alignment and relieve pressure points.
A TEMPUR memory foam top layer adapts to the body to alleviate pressure buildup. Underneath is a denser layer of TEMPUR foam that further enhances cushioning but also prevents your body from sinking too deeply into the mattress. The support core features high-density polyfoam that protects heavier areas of the body from uncomfortable sagging. A stretchy cover engineered to wick away moisture encases the mattress.
Our testing found the TEMPUR-Cloud’s medium (5) feel and foam construction best suited to side sleepers, particularly those weighing up to 230 pounds. Sleepers who frequently use this position should find generous cushioning for pressure points, while the denser foam layers help keep the body properly aligned. Many back and stomach sleepers on our team needed extra support and recommended upgrading to the hybrid model. Like other all-foam models, the TEMPUR-Cloud excelled in our motion isolation tests. The foam layers effectively absorb most movement transfer and noise, making it an excellent choice if you share the bed with a restless sleep partner.
Shipping is free to the contiguous U.S., and Tempur-Pedic offers a 90-night sleep trial to test the mattress. You must try the mattress for at least 30 nights before initiating a return. A 10-year warranty against structural defects backs the mattress.
How to Choose a Mattress for Seniors
With so many mattresses on the market, finding the one that best suits the needs of older adults can seem like a challenge. We’ll clearly outline the most important factors to consider as a senior on the market for a new mattress including price, materials, and key comfort features.
What to Look for in a Mattress
Buying a new mattress represents a significant purchase for most adults. This is especially true for seniors who are more likely to experience recurring aches and pains in their backs and joints. The right mattress can make getting into and out of bed easier, promote spinal alignment, and relieve painful pressure points in sensitive areas.
Unfortunately, mattress companies often use confusing industry jargon in their marketing materials. This can make finding the right mattress harder than it needs to be. Let’s take a look at what really matters when choosing a mattress.
- Price: As with any large purchase, price is an important consideration, especially for seniors who are often living on fixed incomes.
- Quality Materials: The quality of the materials used to make your mattress will determine both its comfort and longevity. A mattress made with high-quality materials will offer superior durability and provide better performance.
- Firmness Level: When choosing a mattress one of the most important considerations is the firmness level. The firmness level tells you how hard or soft a bed will feel. We score firmness on a scale from 1 to 10. Your preferred firmness level will depend on your weight as well as your sleep position. Generally, a medium to medium firm mattress will provide an optimal level of support for the majority of seniors.
- Pressure Relief: This refers to the ability of a mattress to reduce tension and impact when bearing weight. A mattress with significant pressure relief can cushion and accommodate pressure points and promote proper spinal alignment. Seniors, in particular, often require a mattress with excellent pressure relief to help reduce pressure points in key areas like the hips and shoulders and help alleviate back and joint pain.
- Edge Support: This is an important yet often overlooked feature. A mattress with excellent edge support will be able to hold your body weight even at its perimeter as opposed to sinking at the edges. Edge support increases the usable area of the mattress and also makes getting up from your bed easier for aging adults who may have reduced mobility.
Contouring: This refers to the ability of a mattress to mold or contour to your form when under the weight of your body. Contouring contributes to overall comfort as well as pressure relief.
- Temperature Regulation: Different types of mattress materials will absorb and retain your body heat to varying degrees. Poor temperature regulation can cause uncomfortable overheating during the night. Several mattress attributes including materials, thickness, and airflow can affect temperature regulation. Seniors tend to prefer mattresses that absorb less body heat and sleep relatively cool.
- Ease of Movement: This refers to how easy it is to move around on a mattress. Mattresses with more resilience or bounce provide greater ease of movement which can be advantageous for seniors with limited mobility. However, bouncy mattresses will also transfer more motion and may be disruptive to couples sleeping together.
- Mattress Type: Mattresses are placed into different categories corresponding to their materials and construction. Most mattresses on the market fit into one of five types: hybrid, innerspring, latex, airbed, and foam. Each mattress type has its own unique set of advantages and disadvantages. We’ll discuss the different types of mattresses in more detail in the next section.
What Type of Mattress is Best for Seniors?
Each mattress type—defined by its internal construction and materials—has its own advantages and disadvantages. While some mattress types may overall offer features that are better for seniors, there can be variation within each category depending on the brand and specific model. Some types also have a greater range of diversity than others. That’s why it’s important to understand the characteristics of each type of mattress and carefully consider which will best suit your needs.
Hybrid
Definition: Hybrid mattresses contain an innerspring support core made with pocketed coils and a substantial comfort system made with another material such as foam or latex.
Best of Both Worlds: Hybrids aim to combine mattress materials to capture the benefits of foam/latex as well as traditional metal coils while minimizing each material’s potential disadvantages. That means hybrid mattresses offer a great combination of features for seniors—they’re responsive with excellent airflow while providing a quiet sleep experience and contouring that relieves pressure points.
Innerspring
Definition: Innerspring mattresses represent the oldest type in the mattress industry. They are composed of a core of metal coils and an outer covering layer. While the outer layer may be made of foam, latex, cotton, or polyester, it usually does little to change the feel of the mattress. Innerspring mattresses tend to be highly resilient or bouncy.
Low Price Point: As innerspring mattresses have waned in popularity, they tend to represent the most inexpensive, entry-level model offered by mattress retailers. Unfortunately, since the completely coiled construction makes innersprings difficult to compress and ship cheaply, most online retailers do not offer traditional innerspring mattress models.
Latex
Definition: Latex mattresses are constructed entirely with latex. Most online retailers use natural latex made from rubber trees. However, you may also come across mattresses made with synthetic or blended latex.
Cool, Responsive, and Contouring: Latex mattresses provide moderate contouring—they conform to the shape of your body and alleviate painful pressure points without letting you sink too deeply into the mattress surface. Unlike foam mattresses, latex tends to sleep cool and provide greater durability. All of these features make latex a great choice for seniors.
Airbed
Definition: Airbeds, not to be confused with temporary air mattresses, are constructed with a support core that contains an air-filled chamber. The sleeper can add or remove air with a remote or smartphone app to adjust the firmness level. The comfort and transitional layers of an airbed mattress can be made from different materials including memory foam and latex.
Customizable Sleep Experience: The main advantage of an airbed is its level of adjustability. This is particularly beneficial for seniors who may need to adjust their bed’s firmness as joint aches come and go. Most airbeds come with two air chambers on each side so that couples can adjust each side of the bed separately. Additional chambers along the length of the bed in some models allow you to adjust the firmness for different parts of the body.
Foam
Definition: Foam mattresses are constructed entirely out of foam. Different types of foam are typically layered to create an upper comfort layer and a more dense, lower support core. Memory foam is one of the most common materials used in foam mattresses. Polyurethane foam (polyfoam) is another popular material. Latex is sometimes used among the layers, but foam mattresses will not contain coils.
Superior Contouring: All-foam mattresses are the best choice when it comes to contouring, the ability to hug the shape of your body. This is an especially important feature for seniors as it promotes pressure relief in major joint regions such as the hips and shoulders. However, all-foam mattresses tend to have less than ideal temperature regulation.
How Does Age Affect Sleep?
When choosing the best mattress for seniors, it’s important to consider how age affects sleep. A common belief is that our sleep needs decline as we age. While it’s true that the amount of time we need to sleep each night declines from infancy onwards, this trend levels off once we reach adulthood.
That means seniors still need around eight hours of sleep for optimal health. However, the process of aging introduces some unique challenges that can make it more difficult to get the right amount of sleep each night. So how exactly does age affect sleep?
While the amount of sleep we need stays the same during adulthood, our sleep patterns change as we age. Age-related changes in sleep patterns include:
- Advanced sleep timing: older adults tend to experience an advance of sleep schedule to earlier hours, meaning they feel tired earlier in the evening and wake up earlier in the morning.
- Increased number of nightly awakenings: As we age, we tend to wake up more frequently and have a more difficult time falling back asleep, causing an increase in time spent awake during the night.
- Shortened nightly sleep duration: As a result of more time spent awake during the night, older adults tend to sleep less each night.
- Decreased slow wave sleep: More time spent awake during the night also causes older adults to spend less time in the phases of deep, slow wave sleep.
- Increased frequency of daytime naps: To catch up on lost sleep during the night, older adults increase the time they spend napping during the day. But, unfortunately, napping late in the day can also disrupt your sleep schedule and reduce your ability to sleep through the night.
In addition to the natural changes in sleep patterns, seniors are also more likely to suffer from health conditions that disturb restful sleep.
- Arthritis: This chronic condition can cause stiffness, swelling, and pain in the joints.
- Sleep apnea: Older adults are more likely to suffer from sleep apnea, a sleep disorder in which breathing stops and starts throughout the night and affects the quality of sleep.
- Neurological and cognitive conditions: Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and other forms of dementia have been linked to higher rates of insomnia, sleep apnea, and other sleep disorders.
- Diabetes and prostate problems: These and other conditions that seniors commonly experience can lead to frequent nighttime urination, thereby interrupting regular sleep.
Seniors face more hurdles when it comes to getting a full night of restful sleep. But good sleep habits can help balance the disturbances that come with age. This includes the mattress you choose.
The right mattress can make a difference. By carefully choosing a mattress that meets the unique needs of aging adults, you can create a better sleep environment that helps you get the rest you need each night.
Last Things to Consider with a Mattress for Seniors
Now let’s take a look at a few final items that are also important to consider as a senior buying a new mattress. Here we’ll cover how firmness, budget, and warranties should inform your mattress purchase.
Which Mattress Firmness is Best for Seniors?
As is typically the case, the best level of mattress firmness will depend on the sleeper’s weight, sleep position, as well as personal preferences. However, seniors are more likely to experience chronic aches and pains in the back, hips, and major joints. As a result, older adults may want to stay away from overly firm mattresses which can create painful pressure points for already tender joints. Medium soft, medium, and medium firm mattresses that offer moderate contouring are likely to be the best choices for seniors.
How Can I Get Relief On a Budget?
Seniors are often on a fixed income and the potential price tag of a new, high-quality mattress can seem daunting. Fortunately, with increased competition from online mattress retailers, it’s become much easier to find a mattress that fits the unique needs of seniors and their budgets. Online mattresses are often less expensive, since the manufacturer isn’t paying for showrooms and additional staff. These “mattress in a box” models are comparable to those sold in brick-and-mortar stores in terms of construction and performance. All of the mattresses we’ve reviewed for seniors can be purchased online and we included several budget-friendly models.
How Much of an Investment Do I Need to Make?
Although mattress prices are rather straightforward these days, buying a new mattress is still a significant purchase. The mattresses on our list of best mattresses for seniors range from $1199 to $4099 for a queen mattress.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that mattresses are a long term purchase, typically lasting a minimum of 6 years. Moreover, sleep is an integral component of a healthy lifestyle. Weighing how closely a mattress does or does not meet your specific needs as a sleeper should be as important of a consideration in buying a mattress as its price.
Mattress Warranty and Other Policies
One way to protect your investment is to make sure your mattress purchase is covered with a sleep trial and a warranty. Sleep trials give you time to test out a new mattress first hand for a variable period of typically 90 days or more. If you’re not satisfied with your purchase, you can return the mattress within the trial period for a full refund.
Warranties protect you from manufacturing defects. While you still need to take care of your mattress, a warranty may allow you to receive a partial refund or receive a replacement mattress if yours begins to fall apart prematurely. All of the mattresses on our list of best mattresses for seniors come equipped with a sleep trial and warranty coverage.
Still have questions?
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