It is time to talk about the best adjustable beds for seniors.
The more we age, sleep can become increasingly elusive, which makes it so much harder to get a good night’s sleep. As a matter of fact, one-third of U.S. adults don’t even get enough sleep, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
People who only get a maximum of seven hours of sleep every night are at a much higher risk of suffering from some chronic diseases, like type 2 diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and depression. In some cases, an adjustable bed might prove helpful.
This type of bed was once reserved for hospitals and luxury hotels, but now it is getting increasingly more attention for home use. Since we’re constantly talking about beds and technologies, let’s discuss the best adjustable beds for seniors, right?
How to decide on adjustable beds for seniors?
If you want to make a list of some of the best adjustable beds for older adults, you need to make a list and evaluate your options depending on:
- price
- Sleep trial options
- availability and installation
- warranty length
- how many directions the bed can move
- special features
- if there’s any availability for a mattress bundle
- if the bed can fit within an existing bed frame
Adjustable beds
The majority of adjustable beds usually use electrical motor controls on the bed base, so you can easily raise and lower the head and foot of the mattress that’s resting on top of it. All these changes in elevation might make all the difference, especially in a senior’s capacity to sleep well.
For example, if you suffer from sleep apnea and gastroesophageal reflux disease, raising the head of your bed might offer immediate relief. In the meantime, if edema, varicose veins, or sciatica are constantly causing you trouble, lifting the legs above your heart might improve circulation and prevent nerve damage.
There are two types of adjustable beds: the ones that raise the foot and head of the bed, and the other types that mimic the experience of sleeping on a sofa. All these beds raise the mattress in front and behind a person, which makes them ideal for side sleepers. These beds are great for the sleeper’s back, arms, and hands.
How much do they cost?
Adjustable beds are oftentimes much more expensive than traditional ones. Prices could range from $300 to $10,000 or even more, depending on the brand, number of features, size, and service used to deliver them. In most cases, you won’t be able to return an adjustable bed base, so you’ll have to do all the necessary homework before you buy one.
Price
Naturally, the number of additional advanced features will have an influence on the cost of adjustable beds. For example, some beds could include LED lights underneath that will guide you throughout your nighttime trips to the bathroom. Even more, others will offer charging ports for cell phones and any other device. Needless to say, sophisticated ones even have massage and alarm capabilities.
Mattress
If you sleep with someone, maybe you need to consider whether or not you want to sleep in the same position. If not, you might want to get a split mattress, allowing both of you to choose how you sleep. When it comes to the best adjustable beds for seniors, you want to go for a mattress that works with an adjustable base.
Some of those innerspring mattresses are even able to bend and fold. Foam mattresses, whether they’re latex, memory foam, or even a mix between these two, tend to be a bit more flexible. Ultimately, a mattress that traps body heat might end up on your pro or con list, depending on how you prefer to sleep. Some people would rather go with anything else than memory foam mattresses (like me) because they make them uncomfortably warm.
However, others prefer warmth, and that’s why memory foam isn’t a big problem for them. As a general rule, sleep experts believe that a cool environment is much better than a warm one, especially when it comes to getting a good night’s sleep after a long time. However, if you’re a hot sleeper, you might want to try finding natural latex to make you more comfortable.
Base size
Adjustable beds are available in the standard sizes we all know, but there’s one exception: the majority of manufacturers substitute an extra-large twin mattress base in case you want a standard twin. Full-size bed bases might prove to be a bit more difficult to come by than queen, king, or even California king mattress bases.
Weight
The mechanical parts that control the adjustable bed might be too heavy, which is highly important to take into consideration, especially if you plan on picking up the bed yourself. What if your bedroom is upstairs and the delivery service can only bring it to your front door? The last thing you’d need is a hernia!
Assembly
You might notice that some retailers offer white glove delivery and assembly services if you’re willing to pay extra. Well, if you’re handy, you might be able to put together an adjustable bed in one afternoon, but keep in mind that you might have to pay for some extra tools. Also, working by yourself might prove to be tiring.
Warranty
As most manufacturers won’t let you return the adjustable bed, you will still find reassurance in the warranties they offer. Most of them provide up to three years of coverage on anything related to mechanical issues, and the rest of the base has a warranty of up to 20 years. A couple of companies even offer a limited lifetime warranty.
Features
Adjustable bed features are specifically made to provide all the comfort, convenience, and safety in the world. Some of the most common features could include:
- A remote control: the majority of adjustable beds come with a wireless remote. Backlighting, button size, and clear labeling are also extremely important, especially for customers with vision problems.
- An alarm: Some beds also include a vibrating alarm that helps people wake up more gently than the traditional, ringer-based alarm clock. Some mattresses come with an alarm setting that notifies caregivers and nurses if the sleeper is up when it shouldn’t be.
- Memory presets: This feature is super helpful if you don’t want to spend a lot of time finding the right angles every single evening.
- Massaging: Some beds offer massage capabilities, which can easily help you relax and fall asleep faster.
- Sleep tracking: A couple of adjustable bed models feature all kinds of sensors that track your body movement and share data with an application on your mobile phone. The data might help you track your sleep performance.
- Zero-gravity positioning: In a “zero-gravity” position, your feet and head might be slightly raised to relieve pressure on your joints and help your back relax fully.
If you want to have the best sleep, you need to live the experience of having an adjustable bed. There are so many options from which you can choose, but I think the Linespa adjustable bed base is one of the best ones for you. It is super easy to assemble, offers enhanced comfort, and is also a perfect fit for most sizes.
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