What Are The Key Features To Look For In A Mattress?
A new mattress is a major purchase for most adults. Seniors are more susceptible to experiencing recurring pains in their joints and backs. A mattress that is comfortable and supports spinal alignment can make it easier to get into and out of bed, as well as relieve pressure points and pain in sensitive areas.
Mattress companies use confusing industry jargon to market their products. This can make it more difficult to find the right mattress. Let’s look at the most important things when selecting a mattress.
- High Quality MaterialsYour mattress’s comfort and durability will depend on the quality of its materials. High-quality mattress materials will provide superior durability and better performance.
- Firmness LevelThe firmness level is an important factor to consider when choosing a mattress. How firm or soft a mattress will feel is determined by its firmness. On a scale of 1-10, we score firmness. The firmness you prefer will depend on your weight and your sleeping position. A medium-firm mattress should provide the best support for most seniors.
- Pressure relief:This refers to the mattress’s ability to reduce tension and impact on weight bearing. A mattress that offers significant pressure relief can help to cushion and support pressure points, and promote spinal alignment. For seniors, a mattress that offers significant pressure relief is essential to reduce pressure points in key areas such as the hips and shoulders, and relieve back and joint pain.
- Edge SupportThis is an important, yet often overlooked, feature. An edge-support mattress will hold your body weight at the perimeter, rather than sinking towards its edges.
Edge support improves the usability of the mattress. It also makes it easier to get out of bed for older adults with reduced mobility.Contouring refers to the ability to mould or contour a mattress to your body when it is under your weight. This contributes to comfort and pressure relief.
Which Type Of Mattress Is Best For Seniors?
Every mattress type is defined by its inner construction and materials. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. Some mattress types might be better for seniors than others, but there may be variations within each category depending upon the brand and model. There are also different types. It is important to fully understand the differences between each mattress type and choose which one will be most suitable for you.
Hybrid
Definition:Hybrid mattresses have an innerspring support core with pocketed coils, and a substantial comfort system with another material like foam or latex.
Best of both worlds:Hybrids combine different mattress materials to maximize the benefits of both foam/latex and traditional metal coils, while minimising any potential drawbacks.
Hybrid mattresses are a great choice for seniors because they offer a combination of comfort and features. They have excellent airflow, provide a comfortable sleep experience, and contouring that alleviates pressure points.
Innerspring
Definition:Innerspring mattresses are the most common type of mattress. The innerspring mattress is composed of a core made of metal coils and an outer layer. The outer layer can be made from latex, cotton or foam but it does not usually affect the feel of the mattress. Innerspring mattresses are highly resilient and bouncy.Low price point:Innerspring mattresses are less popular than ever and tend to be the cheapest, most affordable, entry-level models offered by mattress retailers. Because innersprings are difficult to compress and ship inexpensively due to their intricate coil construction, many online retailers don’t offer traditional innerspring mattresses models.
Latex
Definition:Latex mattresses are made entirely from latex. Natural latex from rubber trees is used by most online retailers. You may find mattresses with synthetic or blended latex.
Cool, responsive, and contouring:Latex mattresses offer moderate contouring. They conform to your body, alleviate pressure points and don’t allow you to sink too deeply into their surface. Latex mattresses are more durable than foam and sleep cooler than latex. These features make latex an excellent choice for seniors.
Airbed
Definition:Airbeds are not to be confused for temporary air mattresses. They have a support core with an air-filled chamber. To adjust the firmness, the sleeper can either add or subtract air using a remote control or an app on their smartphone. Airbed mattresses can be made of different materials, including latex and memory foam. They also have transitional layers that provide comfort.
You can customize your sleep experienceAn airbed’s main benefit is its ability to be adjusted. This is especially important for seniors who may need their beds adjusted to suit their needs as they age. Airbeds have two chambers, one on each side. This allows couples to adjust the air chambers separately. Some models have additional chambers that run the length of your bed, allowing you to adjust the firmness of different parts of your body.
Foam
Definition:Foam mattresses are entirely made from foam. Foams of different types are often layered to create a comfort layer and a support core. Memory foam is the most popular material used in foam mattresses. Another popular material is polyurethane foam (polyfoam). Sometimes latex is used between the layers. However, foam mattresses won’t contain coils.Superior ContouringAll-foam mattresses offer the best contouring and the ability to mold to your body. Seniors will appreciate this feature because it provides pressure relief in key joint areas such as the hips, shoulders, and hips. All-foam mattresses have less temperature regulation than ideal.
What Does Age Have To Do With Sleep Quality?
It is important to take into account the effects of age on your ability to sleep when choosing the right mattress for you. It is a common belief that as we age, our sleep needs decrease. Although it is true that our sleep time decreases as we age, the trend reverses once we reach adulthood.
Seniors still require eight hours of sleep per night to be in good health. The process of aging brings with it some challenges that make it harder to get enough sleep every night. How does age impact sleep?
Although the amount of sleep that we need throughout adulthood remains the same, our sleep patterns change with age. Changes in sleep patterns as we age include:
- Advanced sleep timingOlder adults experience a shift in their sleep hours. This means that they wake up earlier in morning and feel tired earlier in evening.
- An increase in nightly awakeningsAs we age, we wake up more often and find it more difficult to fall asleep. This causes an increase in the amount of time we are awake at night.
- Nighttime sleep time is shorterOlder adults are more likely to fall asleep each night because they spend less time awake at night.
- Slow wave sleep is decreasing:Older adults spend more time awake at night, which causes them to sleep less in deep, slow-wave sleep.
- Increased number of daytime napsOlder adults can increase their time spent napping throughout the day to catch up on the lost sleep they have. Napping late at night can disrupt your sleep schedule, and make it difficult to fall asleep through the night.
Seniors are more susceptible to experiencing sleep disturbances due to natural changes in their sleep patterns.
- ArthritisThis chronic condition can lead to stiffness, swelling, pain, and joint discomfort.
- Sleep ApneaSleep apnea is more common in older adults. This is a sleep disorder that causes breathing to stop and start throughout the night. It can also affect the quality of your sleep.
- Conditions of cognitive and neurological functioningHigher rates of insomnia, sleep disorder apnea and other conditions have been associated with Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinsons disease.
- Prostate and diabetes:These conditions and others that seniors may experience can cause frequent nighttime urination which can interrupt regular sleep.
Seniors have more challenges when it comes getting a good night’s sleep. Good sleep habits can balance the effects of ageing. You can do this with the mattress you choose.
A good mattress can make all the difference.
The Last Things You Need To Know About A Senior Mattress
Let’s now take a closer look at some final considerations that senior buyers need to keep in mind when buying a mattress. We will discuss how to choose the right mattress firmness, warranty, and budget.
Which Mattress Firmness Is Best For Seniors?
The best mattress firmness depends on the individual’s weight, sleeping position and personal preferences. Seniors are more susceptible to chronic pains in their backs, hips, and major joint. Overly firm mattresses can cause pain and discomfort for already tender joints. Seniors will be most satisfied with medium soft, medium and medium-firm mattresses that have moderate contouring.
How Can I Get Relief From A Tight Budget?
Seniors often have a fixed income so the price tag for a high-quality, new mattress can be daunting. It is now easier than ever to find the right mattress for seniors, thanks to increased competition from online retailers. We reviewed all of the mattress models for seniors and included many budget-friendly models.
What Is The Minimum Amount Of Investment I Need To Make?
Even though mattress prices are relatively straightforward nowadays, it is still an expensive purchase. Our list of the best mattresses for seniors includes a queen-size mattress and a full size mattress.
It is important to remember that mattresses can last for at least 6 years. Sleep is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle. When buying a mattress, it is important to consider how close it meets your needs as a sleeping partner.
Mattress Warranty And Other Policies
A mattress warranty and a sleep trial can help protect your investment. You can test out the mattress for up to 90 days before you buy it. You can return your mattress for a full refund if you are not completely satisfied with the purchase.
Warranty covers manufacturing defects. Although you must still take good care of your mattress, a warranty can allow you to get a partial refund or a replacement if it begins to fail. Each mattress on our list of top mattresses for seniors comes with a warranty and a sleep trial.
