Getting quality sleep can be difficult at any age, particularly as you get older. This is especially true for seniors who face more sleep issues and overall health problems that may interfere with their sleep.
One of the best ways to help combat poor sleep and feel better overall is to get a mattress that suits your unique needs. To help you rest easy, we have carefully selected our top picks for best mattress for seniors that are currently available on the market.
The best mattress for seniors: a shortlist
- Puffy — best mattress for seniors overall
- Brooklyn Bedding — best mattress for side-sleeping seniors
- Amerisleep — best mattress for seniors with back pain
- Plank — best firm mattress for seniors
- Nolah — best organic mattress for seniors
Comparison of the best mattresses for seniors
| Product | Price | Size | Material | Warranty | Certification |
| Puffy Lux | $899 — $2098* | Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king, split king | Patented foams | Lifetime | CertiPUR-US® |
| Brooklyn Bedding | $665 — $1599* | Twin, twin XL, full, short full, queen, short queen, olympic queen, king, short king, California king, split Cal king, RV king | High-density foam layers and premium steel coils | 10 years | No |
| Amerisleep AS2 Hybrid | $849 — 1798* | Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king, split king | Bio-Pur® memory foam | 20 years | CertiPUR-US® |
| Plank Firm | $849 — 1798* | Twin, twin XL, full, short full, queen, short queen, olympic queen, king, short king, California king, split Cal king, RV king | High density foams | 10 years | No |
| Nolah Signature 12 | $844 — $1819* | Twin, twin XL, full, queen, king, California king, split king | AirFoam™ | Lifetime | CertiPUR-US® |
* Mattress prices vary depending on size
The best mattress for seniors: an overview
People are living longer than ever, and we care about the health and well-being of our elders. That’s why we want them to get the best sleep possible.
The first step in getting quality sleep is finding a mattress that suits your unique needs. That’s why we’ve done the work to find the best mattress for senior citizens so that you can rest well and enjoy your life more.
1. Puffy — best mattress for seniors overall
The Puffy Lux Mattress is an award-winning crowd favorite, and is even endorsed by the American Chiropractic Association. We chose it as our best mattress for elderly people thanks to supportive features like pressure relief, enhanced airflow, heat dispersion, and minimal movement transfer.
This hybrid mattress layers different types of foam to help maximize its benefits and provide optimal support, stability, and motion isolation.
You can find out what makes this mattress so popular for $899 to $2098 depending on size, with a lifetime warranty and a 101-night risk-free trial.
2. Brooklyn Bedding — best mattress for seniors who enjoy side sleeping
Seniors who sleep on their sides may find the Signature Hybrid to be supportive to accommodate their specific bodily needs. This mattress offers three different firmness options, each tailored to deliver breathability, comfort, and targeted support for the hips and shoulder, as well as the spine.
Signature Hybrid uses a combination of innovative foams and coils to provide zoned support where you need it most. The brand claims its 760-encased coils provide exceptional contouring, motion isolation, and edge support during sleep. Moreover, the mattress is designed in-house under stringent quality standards, delivering deep compression support and comfort to improve overall sleep quality.
Side sleepers can try the Brooklyn Bedding Medium Firm for $665-$1599 depending on the size or select a firmer option for a more sturdy feel. The bedding includes a 120-day home trial and a 10-year warranty.
3. Amerisleep — best mattress for seniors with back pain
An estimated 85% of people will experience back pain as they age. That’s why Amerisleep developed their AS2 Hybrid Mattress, the best mattress for seniors with bad backs.
This medium firm mattress is engineered to help facilitate healthy spinal alignment, making it a great option for older people with back pain. Made from cooling plant-based Bio-Pur memory foam, this mattress helps support back health while keeping you cool. The fiberglass-free mattress is eco-friendly and non-toxic.
You can try this mattress for $849-$1798 depending on size, with a 20-year warranty and a 100-night risk-free sleep trial.
4. Plank — best firm mattress for seniors
The American Chiropractic Association claims that firmer mattresses can help to reduce spinal stress, improve lumbar support, and alleviate back pain. That was the inspiration behind the Plank Firm mattress.
The brand claims its signature firm mattress is the firmest and flattest mattress for the most supportive sleep. High firmness levels also make this product a great mattress for heavy people. The flippable design allows users a medium-firm option if they find the mattress too firm and also improves the longevity of the mattress.
You can try the “firmest mattress on the market” for $561.80-$1149 with a 120-night free trial and 10-year warranty.
5. Nolah — best organic mattress for seniors
If you're wondering what type of mattress is best for elderly people, take a look at the Nolah Signature 12.
The Nolah Signature 12 is designed to be just as durable as it is comfortable. The brand claims that its signature AirFoam™ dissipates heat 20% faster, provides four times better pressure relief, and is 300% more durable than traditional memory foam.
Maintaining a high standard for their materials, the mattress is topped off with an organic cotton cover that adds cooling, protection, and a luxurious feeling. The deep pressure relief and gentle contouring make it a great mattress for elderly people who want to support their spine and joints.
This durable and organic mattress costs $844-$1819 depending on size and comes with a 120-night trial and lifetime warranty.
Criteria for choosing the best mattress for seniors
| Price | Firmness | Cooling | Materials |
| Features and quality compared to price | Soft, medium, firm | Temperature regulation features | High-quality materials |
- Price. Every senior deserves a comfortable mattress at a price point they can afford. We examined what mattresses offer the most value for the price.
- Firmness. Most experts recommend a medium-firm mattress for seniors, but ultimately firmness is an individual choice. That’s why we included mattresses that offer varying levels of firmness.
- Cooling. Temperature regulation can be a huge factor when it comes to finding a comfortable mattress. That’s why you’ll find a number of cooling mattresses on this list.
- Materials. High-quality materials can increase the longevity and comfort of mattresses. We looked for brands that use top-quality materials.
Common sleep challenges for seniors
Your body changes as you age, and so do your sleep patterns. Older adults are more likely to develop sleep disorders like insomnia, circadian rhythm disturbances, REM sleep behavior disorder, and restless legs syndrome.
Besides sleep disorders, seniors may also have a more difficult time getting comfortable thanks to joint pain, pressure points, frequent urination, leg cramps from poor circulation, and mobility issues. Increased discomfort can exacerbate sleep problems that an older person may already have, making it difficult for them to get the rest they need.
Benefits of choosing the right mattress
Finding the best mattress for older adults with back pain has a lot of potential benefits:
- Spinal alignment. Back pain is fairly common as people age, the best mattress for back pain is one that offers spinal support.
- Reduced sleep disturbances. When someone is comfortable, they’re less likely to toss and turn, and they will sleep better overall.
- Regulated temperature. Seniors may have difficulty maintaining a comfortable temperature while they sleep, the right mattress can help them do that.
Key factors when choosing the mattress for seniors
With so many mattresses out there, it helps to have criteria that help you narrow down your options. When choosing the best mattress for older people, you’ll want to take these factors into consideration:
Support and firmness
Mattresses typically come in three different levels of firmness: soft, medium, and firm. The materials used also influence how much support a mattress has. There’s no one-size-fits-all firmness level when it comes to choosing a mattress for elderly people.
While mattress firmness is a personal choice, some research suggests that a medium-firmness mattress may help prevent or relieve lower back pain, which many older people experience. Weight gain is common as people age. If you need more support, you may want to look for a mattress for heavy people.
Pressure relief
Many older people already deal with an increased amount of aches and pains, so they need a mattress that can help minimize discomfort. A mattress that provides pressure relief is one that offers a high level of support to reduce excess pressure on any pressure points by evenly distributing the user’s weight.
Certain mattress materials tend to offer more pressure relief than others. If you’re looking for extra pressure relief, you may want to opt for a mattress made from memory foam or latex.
Temperature regulation
Biological changes can make it more difficult for senior’s bodies to regulate their temperature while they sleep. When looking for the best mattress for old people, you’ll also want to take into account what temperature regulation features a mattress has.
Other ways for seniors to improve their sleep
When you want to get better sleep, finding the best mattress for seniors is an important first step. That being said, there are a lot of other things older people can do to help improve their sleep and feel better overall.
Stay consistent
Maintaining a regular sleep schedule helps your body know when to release certain sleep hormones, like melatonin, so it can start winding down. Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time most days, even on the weekends.
Creating a bedtime routine can help you stay consistent. This could mean taking a bath, reading, or doing a mindfulness exercise to help you wind down.
Physical activity
Physical activity helps release chemicals that promote restful sleep like serotonin. Getting exercise can also help support bone and joint health so that you’re more comfortable while you sleep.
Of course, it’s common for seniors to have mobility issues or other issues that may make exercise difficult. Some accessible options include swimming, golfing, walking, and dancing. Staying active is a vital part of ageless aging!
Manage stress levels
Stress is one of the biggest blocks to sleep no matter what age you are. When stress and anxiety build up throughout the day, it can make it more difficult to fall and stay asleep.
It’s important to find stress management tools that work for you specifically. Some great tools to try, include, going to therapy, listening to calming music, and spending time with loved ones. Taking the right supplements for older adults can also help you manage stress and sleep better.
The best mattress for seniors – conclusion
Seniors looking for their best night’s sleep will want to start with finding the right mattress. It can take a little extra research to find a product that works for your body and unique needs. We hope this list made it a little easier so that you can sleep better.
When mattress shopping, remember to look at things like materials, warranty, price, and certifications so that you make the best decision for you. No matter their sleeping position, unique needs, or budget, there is a mattress for everyone!
Explore other ways to help seniors get their best night’s sleep
All body types deserve to sleep well. Find the best mattress for heavy people.
Explore the best organic pillows to help minimize toxins and sleep soundly.
Back pain can interrupt your sleep, especially as you age. Check out the best mattress for back pain in 2024.
Many seniors also deal with hip pain. Luckily you can try the best mattress for hip pain.
Want to know just how well you’re sleeping? Try one of the five best sleep-tracking rings in 2024.
FAQ
What mattress firmness is best for older people?
Mattress firmness comes down to individual preference, no matter how old someone is. Still, many seniors benefit from a medium-firm mattress that can help relieve pressure points and provide lower back support. Choosing a mattress with a trial period will let you test the firmness of a mattress before committing to anything
Do senior people need a soft mattress?
A softer mattress can help provide the pressure relief many seniors need to feel comfortable. Still, it’s best not to get a mattress that’s too soft as it might not offer enough support. Older people who sleep on their side are more likely to benefit from a soft mattress that supports their shoulders and hips.
Does Medicare pay for mattresses for seniors?
Medicare doesn’t typically pay for mattresses for seniors, but they will if they’re deemed medically necessary. To have a mattress be covered by Medicare you’ll need to meet certain criteria including your doctor deeming it medically necessary, you’ll use it for at least three years, and that it will be used for medical reasons.
3 resources
- Missouri Medicine. Sleep in the Elderly.
- Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology. What type of mattress should be chosen to avoid back pain and improve sleep quality? Review of the literature.
- National Center for Biotechnology Information. Serotonin and the sleep/wake cycle: special emphasis on microdialysis studies.
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