A great night’s rest depends on a few factors, including stress, eating habits and daily activities. This cannot be truer than in the case of a senior citizen. In addition to these factors is the use of a comfortable mattress. The right mattress will offer the elderly the support they need to ensure their bodies are as comfortable as possible when they sleep.
Everyone should consider a range of factors when buying a mattress, but there are key points to keep in mind when purchasing a bed for a senior member of the family, as recommended by Sally Smith, who works at Lovat House, a Wokingham care home for seniors. Here are our top four tips for buying mattresses for seniors.
Comfort
One of the key points to consider before choosing the best type of mattress is to determine its level of comfort. If you are or intend to buy a mattress for a senior member of the community, always make sure it is comfortable. Wherever possible, try to take the elderly person with you; after all, the best way to determine comfort is to give the mattress a good test. It is important not to be afraid to give the mattress a good go. Lie down on it and sit up.
Make sure that the mattress is also a perfect fit. Buying a mattress is an entirely personal choice, depending on the sleeper’s preferences. If more than one person will be sleeping on the mattress, both persons will need to make sure that the chosen mattress fits perfectly.
Support
Aside from ensuring a great night’s sleep, the mattress plays a very important role in ensuring the physical health of the sleeper. The average person will spend up to a third of their life asleep, so it is important to ensure that the mattress perfectly supports their body during rest.
A mattress that offers poor support will negatively impact the sleeper. They will wake up feeling tired and sore. One of the first signs that a mattress is no longer offering proper support is a sore back when the sleeper wakes up in the morning. A mattress’s supportive capability should include the ability to provide firm, uniform support of the body when the person is lying down.
Materials
Several materials are used in the manufacture of mattresses. These can greatly vary in the support they offer and the level of comfort they provide. For example, an innerspring mattress is available in a wide variety of firmness levels, but it does not necessarily offer the same support as mattresses constructed from high-quality latex or memory foam. Again, it is important to remember that buying a mattress is personal, and the sleeper may prefer an innerspring mattress over any other.
Value
Always shop around for a new mattress, choosing the first best one, may leave you out of pocket. But visiting several different stores will ensure that you are able to get the best value for your money.
