You deserve a good night’s sleep, whether you’re 5 years old or 85 years young. Your ability to sleep at night is affected by several factors including the room temperature, your stress level and how comfortable you feel. But the foundation of good sleep starts with your mattress.
When to Shop for a New Mattress
How do you know when it’s time to shop for a new mattress? If you’re consistently waking up with neck or lower back pain, or notice muscle soreness and stiffness that goes away as you move for 15 to 30 minutes, then you probably need a new mattress. A mattress for seniors should support the back, cushion bones and joints, and allow the spine to stay properly aligned. It should be comfortable, with no nagging pressure on the back or joints.
Since most mattresses last between 7 and 10 years, you may benefit from a new one if your mattress is older than 10 years. But if after 5 to 7 years, you start experiencing aches and pains upon waking and feel uncomfortable during the night, then consider a new mattress.
What to Look for in a Mattress for Seniors
As you cross the 60-year mark in life, your best choice in a mattress will offer a balance of comfort and support. A too-firm mattress will put pressure on your back and bones and can even push you out of alignment. And a mattress that is too soft won’t provide the support you need to stay in alignment. Unless your physician recommends an extra firm mattress, a medium-to-firm support level will help minimize lower back pain.
Your physical sleeping patterns are also something to consider when looking for a new mattress for elderly consumers. If you sleep on your side, then a medium support level will provide a bit more softness for your shoulders and hips. If you sleep on your stomach, then you may prefer a firmer mattress to keep your body more level.
Mattress Types for Seniors
- A memory foam mattress for elderly consumers is becoming more popular because this design is known for facilitating a good sleeping posture. These mattresses, made of multiple layers and densities of foam, contour to your body and absorb movement. Memory foam mattresses are usually available in thicknesses from two to six inches.
- Innerspring mattresses with coils are still the most frequently purchased style. They deliver the familiar bounciness with bounce determined by the gauge of the inner coils. A 12-gauge is the thickest coil and has less bounce than an 18-gauge thinner coil. Companies now offer pocketed coils, which means the coils are wrapped in fabric to minimize the ripple effect when a sleeper moves on the mattress.
- Hybrid mattresses were introduced several years ago and combine the coils from an innerspring mattress with the contouring qualities of a memory foam mattress. These may offer a good compromise between comfort and support as a mattress for elderly people.
It’s important to invest time when shopping for a mattress. Plan to spend at least 15 minutes laying on a mattress in various sleeping positions. Try a few different styles to get the balance that feels best for you. Check out Broadway Furniture for our mattress selection to find the best mattress for seniors. Invest in rest and enjoy better health!
