With advancing age, there is a natural change in the sleep cycle. In addition, various health complications can be added that do not add to restorative sleep. Even if seniors follow the rules of sleep hygiene, there is still something extra that needs to be done. An elevated bed, a suitable mattress and a medical pillow will support sleep quality.
With increasing age, not only physical characteristics change, but also sleep. Its length is shorter and falling asleep shifts to earlier hours. At the same time, sleep disorders appear, which are related to breathing, various diseases, biological changes, etc.
They negatively affect the quality of sleep:
Lack of quality sleep can manifest itself in different ways. Among the most common are:
Some of the causes that lead to sleep disorders can only be dealt with by experts. Others you can solve yourself. How? By getting a good quality bed, mattress, mattress topper and other equipment that can improve the quality of your sleep.
In proportion to age, older people begin to experience reduced flexibility, muscle and joint stiffness, pain and other health complications that make it difficult not only to sit in a chair, but also to get into bed, get up in the morning or roll over in bed.
For the best possible comfort when getting up and down, look for a raised bed for the elderly. The sides of a raised bed for the elderly should be at least 55 cm above the ground. For comparison, the height of a standard bed is between 35 and 45 cm.
You can also influence the height of a senior bed by the height of the mattress, which ranges from 18 cm up to 30 cm. To prevent the mattress from sliding off the bed, it should be at least 1/4 recessed into the frame. Take a look at our range of high mattresses.
How high off the ground should the sleeping surface, i.e. the top of the mattress, be? If a senior stands up to the bed, the top of the mattress should be between the knees and the hips. This is usually around 55 to 65 cm high. It also depends on your height.
If the medical mattress ends just below the backdrop, it will be easy to sit on the bed and lie down in it. But you’ll have to slide down a little when you get up. If the mattress is lower and the senior’s feet touch the floor, it will be easy to get out of bed but a little less comfortable to lie down in.
Additional requirements for a high senior bed:
As the elderly may suffer from increased bruising, the bed should not have sharp edges. Rounded edges and a soft bed frame are ideal, as offered by upholstered beds, for example.
At Materasso , beds are made to measure by masters in the field. You can choose not only the dimensions you need, but also the upholstery material. You can choose from more than 150 colours. The choice of fabric is also yours. For ease of maintenance, it is best to upholster your raised bed for the elderly in eco-leather, leatherette or a fabric that is easy to maintain.
The bed frame is made of quality spruce wood, which we soften with foams. The upholstered bed is therefore soft, so there is no risk of injury. It includes a high upholstered headboard, which offers comfort when you want to read or do a crossword puzzle in bed.
You can also choose from several variants of bed bodies. For the elderly, the BOXSPRING Mobile is ideal, as it allows continuous positioning of the head, back and legs. This reclining bed, which will be appreciated not only by seniors, is controlled by a remote control.
The height of the bed affects how comfortable it is to lie down in and how much effort it is to get up from it. The mattress and mattress are responsible for your sleeping comfort.
An elevated bed for the elderly is worth adding a reclining grid. In this way, the classic bed becomes a reclining bed that is suitable not only for the elderly, but also for disabled people who spend most of their time in bed. The grating allows positioning in the head and leg area, but also only in the head area. So it depends on which reclining grating you prefer. A reclining mattress can relieve seniors of back, joint, and muscle pain and can reduce the formation of varicose veins.
Types of positioning grids:
Why should you take care when choosing a grate? Because it is the mattress grid that helps the mattress to function optimally, but also allows it to ventilate sufficiently. When choosing a mattress, consider not only the mobility of the senior, but also their weight.
Also consider the type of mattress. Spring and pocket mattresses are not suitable for reclining mattresses. You can safely place these on fixed(slatted, slatted) mattresses. Adjustable mattresses do best with foam mattresses.
When choosing a mattress for seniors, there are several important parameters to consider:
When choosing a mattress for the elderly, it is important that the mattress is sufficiently breathable. Physiotherapists recommend higher and softer mattresses, as older people can suffer from a range of problems from back and joint pain to poor circulation and bedsores. Therefore, choose a mattress based on current as well as possible future health problems.
Senior mattresses are designed for the elderly and have a reinforced edge. The mattress does not deform and provides sufficient support when lying down, as most elderly people first sit on the mattress before lying down.
You can also reach for senior health mattresses that are certified as medical devices. If an older person is bedridden for a long time, choose a an anti-substance abuse mattressthat prevents bedsores. This is because it promotes proper blood circulation not only in the skin but also in the deep tissues.
You can equip a raised bed for the elderly with different mattresses, the properties of which vary according to the manufacturing materials. The most suitable materials for the elderly include:
Senior mattresses should have zoning. The mattress is divided into several anatomical zones whose firmness corresponds to a specific part of the body. In the lumbar area, which requires stable support, the mattress is firmer than in the shoulder area, for example. The highest number of anatomical zones is 7. At Materasso, we also produce customised mattresses, so you can choose the design that best suits your requirements. Find out more about the firmness and rigidity of mattresses.
If you are looking for a mattress for a medical recliner bed, reach for foam products. On the other hand, spring mattresses or those with a coconut board are completely unsuitable.
In addition to the mattress, mattress and frame, you can equip the bed with other useful accessories. Which are?
A bedside table should be placed on the side of the bed, and its height should match the height of the sleeping surface. For the elderly, bedside tables with a drawer where they can store their glasses, blood pressure monitor or medication are best.
Quality sleep is important not only for physical health, but also for mental well-being. Treat yourself to a bed where you sleep soundly and wake up smiling in the morning.
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