• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

SeniorsMobility.org - Exercise & Equipment Guides for Seniors

MENUMENU
  • Bathroom
    • Create a Safe Bathroom
    • Bathroom Safety Tips
    • Bath Lifts
    • Bath Pillows
    • Shower Chairs
      • Shower Chair Cushions
    • Shower Transfer Benches
    • Raised Toilet Seats
    • Toilet Safety Rails
    • Toilet Seat Lifts
    • Walk-in Tubs
  • Bedroom
    • Create a Safe Bedroom
    • Beds
      • Bed Safety for Elderly
        • Elderly Falling Out of Bed
        • Help Getting Out of Bed
      • Adjustable Beds
        • Adjustable Bed Sheets
      • Hospital Bed Sheets
        • How to Set Up a Hospital Bed
        • Does Medicare Cover Hospital Beds?
        • Hospital Bed Sheets
      • Bed Alarms
      • Bedside Commodes
      • Bed Rails
      • Overbed Tables
    • Mattresses
      • Types of Mattresses
        • Back Pain
        • Hip Pain
        • Sciatica
        • Heavy People
        • Back Sleepers
        • Side Sleepers
        • Stomach Sleepers
      • Mattress Sizes
      • How to Choose a Mattress
      • Mattress FAQs
      • Mattress Maintenance
    • Pillows
      • Back Pain
      • Hypoallergenic/Allergies
      • Reading
      • Orthopedic
      • TMJ
      • Sleep Apnea
    • Step Stools
  • Living
    • Create a Safe Living Room
    • Grabber Tools
    • Lift Chairs
    • Lift Cushions
    • Massage Chairs
      • Buying Guide
        • What is a Massage Chair?
        • Health Benefits
          • Studies
        • Pros & Cons
        • Cost
        • Where to Buy
        • Insurance
      • Best for Elderly
        • 3D
        • Back Massage
        • Chair Pads
        • Cheap
        • Compact
        • Full Body
        • Heating
        • Under $1000
        • Zero Gravity
      • Brands
        • Brookstone Renew Zero Gravity
        • Cozzia
        • Daiwa
        • Human Touch
          • Human Touch iJoy
        • Infinity
          • Infinity Presidential
        • Kahuna
        • Osaki
          • Osaki OS 4000
          • Osaki OS-3D Pro Cyber
        • Panasonic
    • Seat Cushions
      • Hemorrhoid Seat Cushions
    • Standing Aids
    • Stand Assist Lift
    • TVs
      • TV Remotes
      • TV Speakers
  • Getting Around
    • Best Mobility Aids for Seniors
    • Beach Chairs
    • Bikes
    • Booster Seats - Adults
    • Canes - Balance Problems
    • Canes - Walking
    • GPS Trackers
    • Headphones
    • Hearing Amplifiers
    • Scooters
    • Shoes
      • Brands
        • Dr. Scholl’s
        • New Balance
        • Skechers Go Walk 4
      • Where to Buy
      • Men
      • Women
      • Ankle Support
      • Balance Problems
      • Comfort
      • GPS
      • House
      • Lightweight
      • Orthopedic
      • Prevent Falls
      • Running
        • What to Look for in a Running Shoe
      • Slip On
      • Swollen Feet
      • Shower
      • Tennis
      • Velcro
      • Walking
      • Wide Fitting
    • Walkers
      • Buying Guide
        • How to Measure
        • Where to Buy
        • Medicaid Requirements
        • Medicare Requirements
        • Tips for Buying
        • How to Use
        • Safety Tips
      • Best for Seniors
        • 3-Wheel
        • Lightweight
        • Outdoor Use
        • Transport Chair
        • Travel
        • With Seat
      • Carex
        • Carex 3 Wheel Walker
        • Carex Crosstour Rolling Walker
        • Carex Steel Rolling Walker
        • Carex Step n Rest Walker
      • Drive
        • Drive Duet Transport Chair
        • Drive Nitro Euro Style Walker
      • Elenker
      • Medline
        • Medline Bariatric Walker
        • Medline Empower Rollator
        • Medline Ultralight Freedom Walker
      • Nova
        • Nova 3 Wheel Walker
        • Nova GetGo Walker
        • Nova Zoom Walker
      • Accessories
    • Wheelchairs
      • Should I Use A Wheelchair?
      • How to Choose a Wheelchair
      • Transport Chair Vs  Wheelchair
      • Wheelchair Weight
      • How to Use a Wheelchair
      • How to Clean a Wheelchair
      • How to Ship a Wheelchair
      • Vehicles for Wheelchairs
      • Make a Van Wheelchair Accessible
      • Where to Donate Wheelchairs
      • Wheelchair Carriers
      • Wheelchair Ramps
  • Exercises
    • How Exercises Improve Mobility
    • Is Exercise Safe for You?
    • Best Mobility Exercises for Seniors
    • Best Exercise Equipment Seniors
    • Exercises for Bed-Bound Elderly
  • Free Wheelchairs
    • National
    • Alabama
    • Alaska
    • Arizona
    • Arkansas
    • California
    • Colorado
    • Connecticut
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Hawaii
    • Idaho
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Kentucky
    • Louisiana
    • Maine
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    • Minnesota
    • Mississippi
    • Missouri
    • Montana
    • Nebraska
    • New Hampshire
    • New Jersey
    • New Mexico
    • New York
    • North Carolina
    • North Dakota
    • Ohio
    • Oklahoma
    • Oregon
    • Pennsylvania
    • Rhode Island
    • South Carolina
    • South Dakota
    • Tennessee
    • Texas
    • Utah
    • Vermont
    • Virginia
    • Washington
    • Wisconsin
    • Wyoming

Best Beds for Seniors: What Bed Type is Best for Elderly People?

Best Beds for Seniors

Buying the right bed becomes even more important if you’re over 65. This is because your health is deteriorating, and the wrong bed will make it worse. It’s time to get rid of the regular bed you may be using and invest instead in one that is more suitable to your physical needs.


Table Of Contents
Major Types of Beds for Seniors: Adjustable Beds and Hospital Beds for Home Use
Adjustable Beds for Seniors
Benefits of Adjustable Beds for Seniors
Pros of Using Adjustable Beds
Cons of Using Adjustable Beds
Hospital Beds for Home Use
Benefits of Hospital Beds for Home Use
Pros of Using Hospital Beds for Home

Cons of Using Hospital Beds for Home
Bed Equipment for the Elderly
Bed Rails for the Elderly
Bed Liners for the Elderly
Bed Sensors for the Elderly
Bed Bumpers for the Elderly
FAQs: Beds for Seniors
Conclusion

Major Types of Beds for Seniors: Adjustable Beds and Hospital Beds for Home Use

This section describes the two major types of beds for seniors; adjustable beds and hospital beds for home use. Adjustable beds and hospital beds share only one common feature, that is that both have adjustable platforms for your head and feet. Apart from this one feature, the two are quite different. We describe what each bed is, how it works, its benefits, and its pros and cons.

Adjustable Beds for Seniors

best adjustable beds for seniors

Adjustable beds are designed to look like traditional beds, but they offer several benefits for certain sleepers, especially the elderly who have health concerns. These beds are also ideal for people who suffer from therapeutic injuries or chronic conditions.

Adjustable beds come in all sizes - twin, full, queen, and king, and the mattresses made for such beds are designed to withstand different adjustments. The bed adjustments are controlled through either a wired or wireless hand control. Depending on the model you get, you can have basic or more advanced controls, where you can add certain adjustments to your “favorites,” which means that those adjustments will just be a touch away. Some models even include heat and therapeutic massages, which is a huge plus for the elderly since it provides added comfort and relief from pain.

Benefits of Adjustable Beds for Seniors

Many elders suffer from various sleep conditions that affect their general well-being. An adjustable bed helps with chronic sleep conditions like sleep apnea, chronic snoring, and insomnia, so they can have a peaceful full night’s rest and an active day ahead.

One of the ways an adjustable bed relieves pain is by means of head or foot elevation, which works on different body zones and helps alleviate pressure from problem areas. This also distributes the weight of one’s body evenly over the bed and consequently saves the sleeper from back pain, as well as pain in the shoulders, knees, the hips, and joints.

Pros of Using Adjustable Beds

  • Come in all sizes
  • It has a better chance of fitting in with the rest of your furniture
  • Some beds are designed to fit into your regular bed frames so you can have your pick with the bed design
  • Aesthetically pleasing
  • Built-in massage feature
  • Bedroom amenities like charging ports, nightlights, and alarms.
  • Can be controlled through remotes or even your smartphones

Cons of Using Adjustable Beds

  • Not always FDA approved for medical device specifications
  • Not covered by health insurance
  • Apart from the head and foot adjustment, there is no other feature that offers any medical benefits.

Hospital Beds for Home Use

modern hospital ward

Hospital beds are for people who have serious medical issues and are usually accompanied by a medical caregiver. One feature that hospital beds have that adjustable beds do not is that they can be lowered to floor level or raised upward towards the ceiling. This serves two purposes; the first is to give the caregiver’s back a break, and the second is to prevent injuries to the patient or the elderly person in case they fall out while sleeping or when trying to get out of bed.

These beds also have industrial wheels that make them very mobile and easy to move, in addition to having in-built side rails that have the bed controls. The mattresses used for hospital beds are also different; they’re made of thick vinyl, which makes them easy to scrub and disinfect. Hospital beds generally have an industrial look with bulky frames that can look off-putting next to the rest of your furniture, and they only come in twin sizes, which means you cannot sleep with your partner.

Benefits of Hospital Beds for Home Use

The height adjustment feature comes in very handy when dealing with elderly patients. By decreasing the height, you can keep them from suffering any real damage in case they do fall off. Adjustable height is also a useful feature for when Hoyer patient lifts are used for disabled people, for example, for moving them from their wheelchairs to the beds. Lots of elderly people are disabled and require this function, at which time having a hospital bed pays off.

Another benefit is its portability. Any other bed would need to be disassembled before it could be transported, but hospital beds can just be rolled off easily without even disturbing the person in it.

Since these beds are FDA approved, they are sold by recognized medical equipment sellers, which means they are normally covered under health insurance policies. Therefore, if you’re on a budget, this particular benefit can be a game-changer for you because insurance companies will pay for this bed for you.

If the lack of amenities and the utilitarian design does not bother you that much, and you know this bed might have to be moved around frequently, a hospital bed is the right bed for you.  

Pros of Using Hospital Beds for Home

  • Total height is adjustable
  • Adjustable platforms for your head and feet
  • Can be transported to a different location without having to be disassembled
  • Covered under health insurance
  • Remote control and smartphone control
  • Manual control as a backup

Cons of Using Hospital Beds for Home

  • Stands out against the furniture as hospital beds generally lack aesthetic appeal
  • Lack of amenities as compared to adjustable beds
  • Limited sizes

Bed Equipment for the Elderly

In addition to the appropriate type of bed, there is also some equipment that seniors and their caregivers can use to help and protect them. Below, we describe the major types of equipment; bed rails, bed liners, bed sensors, and bed bumpers.

Bed Rails for the Elderly

Bed rails are railings that go along the side of a bed and come in many shapes and sizes. They serve two purposes. One is to prevent you from rolling off from the bed, and the other is to provide something to hold on to so getting up from the bed is easier and doesn’t require assistance.

source

Bed Liners for the Elderly

As you age, you are more likely to lose control over your bladder. Not only can this be uncomfortable for you, but it also costs time and effort to wash the mattress every time. It might even have to be replaced. With bed liners, your mattress stays clean and safe, and you just have to wash the sheet.

source

Bed Sensors for the Elderly

Caregivers and family members often worry about the elderly with conditions like dementia, getting up from the bed, and not being able to find their way back. Seniors might also fall off and not be able to get back up. Bed sensors can help out here. They have pressure sensors, and when they sense that the weight of the user is no longer on the bed, they send a signal to the person in the other room.

source

Bed Bumpers for the Elderly

Bed bumpers can be placed on the sides of the bed to prevent falls. They are a softer alternative compared to bed rails. They also don’t have spaces between them, unlike rails, so you won’t get your arm or leg stuck there and cause discomfort or pain.

source

FAQs: Beds for Seniors

There are some frequently asked questions that seniors and their caregivers have about beds for seniors. Below we answer those questions:

What is the ideal bed height for the elderly?

One’s bed should be the right height to ensure that there is no extra stress on the body. For the elderly, this becomes even more important since they are more likely to be suffering from medical conditions such as arthritis. According to the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, the ideal height from the floor to the top of the mattress should be 20 to 23 inches.

However, this is not something definitive. What matters is that when you sit on the bed, your knees should be in line with your hips and your feet should be planted flat on the ground. If the bed is too high, you will have to jump on and off it and might be prone to serious injury. On the other hand, getting in or out of a bed that is too low puts too much strain on the muscles. For seniors with a higher risk of falling from the bed, lower bed heights work better.

What size bed should the elderly use?

The elderly should use a bed that is the right height for them. When they sit on the bed, their feet should be flat on the ground, and their knees should be in line with their hips. This ensures that they are able to get up from the bed without putting extra stress on their joints. The bed should also be wide enough, so they don’t fall off and injure themselves.

Why use an adjustable bed for an elderly person?

The senior population can benefit in many ways by using an adjustable bed, considering the changes our bodies inevitably go through as we age. An adjustable bed ensures more restful sleep, which is even more important for the elderly because they are more likely to suffer from the side effects of not sleeping well. They are also more likely to get chronic spinal pain. An adjustable bed helps to ease the stress on the back and prevent pain. It also helps to boost blood circulation and prevent swelling of the feet and legs by elevating the leg rest of the bed.

Even the simplest body movements can become difficult with age. Getting out of bed can take a lot of core and muscle strength, which the elderly may lack. The adjustable backrest can help you sit upright so you can swing your legs off the bed and stand up. This feature also comes in handy when they want to sit up in bed to eat, watch TV, or read.

What kind of beds do old people need to sleep without falling down?

Seniors falling out of bed is a big concern for their family members and caregivers since it can cause serious injuries, such as hip fractures, to their already fragile and weak bodies. Hence, it’s necessary to ensure they sleep on a bed that keeps them secure from potential falls that occur from a rolling motion during their sleep or while getting out of the bed.

While you can make do with your existing bed by installing bed rails, placing a foam pool noodle or pillows on the sides of the bed, and a fall mat next to the bed to soften any fall, replacing your bed with a hospital bed is a great option too.  A hospital bed’s height can be lowered so it’s appropriate for your height, and falls can be prevented. They also come with built-in rails that can be raised and lowered as and when needed.

Which beds are most comfortable for seniors?

Depending on your particular health conditions and mobility, as well as the convenience of your caregiver, you can choose between a hospital bed and an adjustable bed. You can go through the list of pros and cons of each type of bed we have put together for you and figure out what suits you better. Either way, as a senior, a regular bed is not the most comfortable for you and can cause poor sleep and several physical problems.

What type of bed is needed for elderly people with broken hip?

Healing from a broken hip requires a lot of bed rest. Many complications can result from elongated bed rest that can prove to be life-threatening, such as pneumonia, bedsores, and blood clots. All of these can be controlled if the patient is moved around frequently. An adjustable bed allows that because its leg and backrests can be raised. It also helps the patient get out of bed, which is important for the healing process.

Conclusion

We hope this guide will help you make an informed decision about what type of bed to purchase that would be the most suitable for your particular needs, as well as some of the equipment that will increase your safety and comfort.

Sources:

10 Best Adjustable Beds for the Elderly in 2020

Adjustable Bed vs Hospital Bed: Which One Will Suit You The Best?

What Are The Differences Between Home Hospital Beds And Adjustable Beds?

Hospital Bed Vs. Adjustable Bed

What is the Best Bed Height for Seniors? - Sensible Senior Living

What Is The Best Bed Height For Seniors?

5 ways an adjustable mobility bed will help you and/or your elderly loved one

5 Helpful Benefits of Adjustable Beds for Seniors

Causes, Risks, and Solutions for Seniors Falling Out of Bed

5 Ways to Prevent Seniors from Falling Out of Bed

Hip Fractures

10 Best Bed Wetting Sheets and Pads for Adults 2020

5 Best Bed Sensor Pads And Alarms For Seniors With Dementia

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • Free Wheelchair Vermont (2021) – Where to Get Assistive Devices for Free in Vermont
  • Free Wheelchair Utah (2021) – Where to Get Assistive Devices for Free in Utah
  • Free Wheelchair Tennessee (2021) – Where to Get Assistive Devices for Free in Tennessee
  • Free Wheelchair Pennsylvania (2021) – Where to Get Assistive Devices for Free in Pennsylvania
  • Free Wheelchair Texas (2021) – Where to Get Assistive Devices for Free in Texas

SeniorsMobility.org is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Affiliate Disclosure
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap