Guides

Best Mattress For Seniors In The UK

Ageing gracefully with the right mattress!
Best Mattress For Seniors In The UK
Tom Greenspan
Updated 
February 7, 2024

As a reader-supported website, we're able to keep it free. Buying something through a link on this page might earn us commissions. Thanks for that.

As you grow older, sleeplessness and insomnia may arise for various reasons and sleeping at a stretch may become challenging. 

However, a good mattress can take care of this problem and ensure you sleep properly. However, you should know that there is no such thing as the “perfect” mattress. People have different  problems, and the mattress should be purchased according to them. 

Also, what will work for a back sleeper may not be the right option for a side sleeper. Hence, choosing can be tough, but we are here to help with the five best mattresses for seniors. 

So, let us explore them together. 

Some of the Best Mattress For Seniors in The UK are:

  1. Nectar Foam Mattress - Top Pick
  2. Emma Original Mattress 
  3. DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid Mattress 
  4. Noa Mattress 
  5. The Simba Hybrid Mattress 

1. Nectar Foam Mattress 

The Nectar memory foam mattress will impress you with its 25-cm thickness and medium-firm nature. It will ensure the body stays cool throughout the night, thanks to the quilted cover. Also, it offers a breathable support layer that will allow proper airflow throughout the night and adds a much-needed bounce to. The base layer offers additional space needed for proper compression. 

Not only will it facilitate deep sleep for seniors but it will also take care of their body aches and pains. Moreover, you will be happy to know that this Nectar mattress comes with a 365-night home trial, so you can return it anytime within this period in case of any issues. It is available in five sizes, so you choose one based on the size of the bed frame. 

Drawback

You may get a chemical smell for the first few days, but it will subside with continuous use. 

Verdict

Enjoy five layers of comfort as you settle in this medium-firm mattress from Nectar. Its adaptive technology will provide relief to all the pressure points in your hips, legs, and shoulders, along with ensuring proper spinal alignment. 

2. Emma Original Mattress 

The Emma original mattress is perfect for all sleeping positions and body types. It comes with three layers of foam, which offers sufficient pressure relief. Plus, it is not too firm and not too soft, giving you the perfect level of comfort. Also, you get a 10-year guarantee period along with 200 nights trial. If you feel this is not the right mattress for you, it can easily be returned within the said period. 

Additionally, it has a machine washable cover, which is removable and made of breathable fabric, which will help in regulating body temperature. Likewise, the Halo memory foam below offers the perfect amount of spinal support. And lastly, you can get it shipped within two to three business days. 

Drawback

The mattress makes some noise with movement, which may be problematic for some people. 

Verdict

This mattress uses point elastic Airgocell technology to ensure breathability and sufficient temperature regulation. So, you can look forward to a cool and cosy sleeping experience every night without any disturbance. 

3. DreamCloud Luxury Hybrid Mattress 

It is time to bring unmatched comfort and luxury to your room with the DreamCloud luxury hybrid mattress. This mattress is made keeping in mind the requirements of front, side and back sleepers. The traditional pocket springs, along with memory foam, provide dual support. And you can get five size options for all sizes of bed frames. 

That is not all; the brand provides a lifetime warranty along with a 365-night trial period. If you face any problems during this time, you can contact the customer care, who will help out. Also, if you are wondering, the mattress is 28 cm deep, making it a thick medium-firm surface to land on every night. 

Drawback

Some people have complained of stiffness after sleeping for a few nights on this mattress. 

Verdict

This premium mattress comes with a luxury quilted top, a supportive foam base, and memory foam inside. So, you can enjoy a good night’s sleep without feeling hot at any point. 

4. Noa Mattress 

The Noa mattress is going to be the perfect choice for all those looking for a mattress without breaking the bank. Besides, the brand offers excellent discounts, which makes it easier on the pockets. But that does not mean there is any compromise in quality as Noa mattresses are made with cooling gel memory foam, AirCell foam, and supportive pocket springs. The materials have fewer VOCs( Volatile Organic Compound) as well. 

Besides, the foam layers are held together with a water-based adhesive that will keep you cool. Plus, the mattress is known to be ultra-breathable because of the hand-tufted top. This even prevents wrinkles and impressions after use. And the 28 cm thickness adds to the comfort this hybrid spring foam mattress provides. You can pick between five sizes depending upon the bed frame. 

Drawbacks 

While most brands provide a 365-day trial period, Noa offers a trial period for only 120 days. 

Verdict

If you are looking for luxurious comfort without having to pay a high price for it, the Noa mattress is the one to pick. You can easily get it delivered for free within 2 to 7 business days. 

5. The Simba Hybrid Mattress 

If you want to enjoy gravity-defying comfort, then choose The Simba Hybrid Mattress. The manufacturers claim to have collected body data belonging to ten million people when sleeping to create this hybrid mattress. It sports five innovative layers, which include the titanium Aero Coil layer that will prevent you from getting heated up. Plus, an open cell graphite infused Simbatex layer and a multi-zoned foam base are paired with it. 

The brand also offers the highest number of sizes so that you find the perfect fit. There are nine sizes to pick from, depending upon your bed frame. Additionally, the mattress provides edge-to-edge support, meaning you can sleep anywhere on the bed surface. The foam used is CertiPUR-recognised and does not contain any CFC or harmful metal. It’s non-toxic and safe to be used in kids’ bedrooms too. 

Drawback 

If you have received a damaged product, the replacement process can be taxing. 

Verdict

Equipped with 2,500 springs, this mattress can provide you the right support along with no motion transfer. This means your partner can get in and out of bed without you being woken up by the movement. 

FAQs

Now that you are well-versed with all the top products, you may still have some questions about choosing the right one. We have listed down all the things the customers want to know about, and these should answer all your queries as well. 

1. What should you look for when purchasing mattresses for seniors? 

There are some major factors to take into consideration while purchasing a new mattress for seniors. They are: 

  • Warranty 
  • Maintenance
  • Comfort
  • Support
  • Suitability 
  • Budget 

1.Warranty 

It is best to opt for mattresses that come with a 7 to 10 years warranty period. These are safer options and you can get them exchanged in case you do not have the right experience. For this purpose, you can call up customer care to know more about the warranty. They will ask for a reason and schedule the return. 

Some companies may ask you to send the mattress back and they cover the shipping charges once it is received. 

2. Maintenance

Seniors may often live alone and may not be able to overturn the mattress at intervals to better the airflow. Hence, you should look for mattresses that need low maintenance. Also, they should be able to regulate the temperature and airflow, making sure hot sleepers do not feel uncomfortable. 

3. Comfort 

A good mattress should offer the right level of comfort, and you should always check out all the mattress features. A high-quality mattress will offer medium firmness, relieving pressure points, and allowing one to sleep well. 

4. Support 

Seniors usually have weak muscles and will need as much comfort and support as can be provided. Hence, you should talk to the doctor to know if any special kind of mattress is required. Also, you can check out orthopaedic mattresses if needed. An orthopaedic mattress is designed to provide firmer support to weak muscles. 

5. Suitability 

Any mattress bought for an older adult should come with edge support and allow one to have a good night’s sleep. Moreover, the users should be able to change their sleep positions easily. Foam mattresses usually offer this benefit, and you can opt for a memory foam option. 

Also, the right mattress should ensure that the body heat is not absorbed, and the person should not be sweating through the night. 

6. Budget

Memory foam and orthopaedic mattresses are pretty expensive, so you will have to set the required budget before you buy. The cost will vary based on the mattress thickness and the size, so choose one which fits your requirement. 

2. Why is it essential to avoid poor-quality mattresses? 

There are so many mattresses on the market that can be bought at a low price, but they provide no support at all. Be very careful and stay away from these as they may cause: 

  • Osteoarthritis
  • Arthritis
  • Back, neck, and hip pain
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis 
  • Fibromyalgia 

If you already have any of these conditions, then a bad mattress can exaggerate it and cause further issues. So, choose wisely and only opt for those that allow a trial period. This way, you can test it for a few nights or for a month and return it if it does not work well for you.

 

3. What types of mattresses are suitable for seniors? 

While looking through the mattresses available, you should know about the top ones that work for seniors the best. These include: 

1. Memory Foam 

Memory foam is known for its pressure-relieving and soft nature, which makes it perfect for most people. It contours the body perfectly, and seniors will be able to get relief from their aching joints. 

Since some elders may find it difficult to climb on tall beds, they can choose a thinner memory foam mattress to bring down the overall height of the bed. 

Adding to it, memory foam is generally not noisy, and it can absorb motion. Hence, senior couples can use it for their beds so that nobody is disturbed at night. 

2. Innerspring Mattress

These mattresses are equipped with pocket springs or coils and there are multiple such coils inside, which makes it supportive enough to be used by seniors. 

Plus, they will maintain strong edge support, ensuring it is easy to get in and out of bed. These also work well for hot sleepers as the spaces between coils allow air movement. Hence, the body temperature is kept in check. 

Moreover, innerspring mattresses can be used by stomach sleepers and back sleepers who need a lot of support. The mattress materials ensure that the spine and hip are aligned properly, making it perfect for those with injuries as well. 

However, side sleepers might find this to be a firmer mattress as it will not provide enough support to their shoulder and hips. 

3. Latex Mattress

Made of natural latex, these mattresses are bouncy and durable. Since latex does not sag easily, you can expect these to last longer than foam mattresses. Also, because of the firmness, they can provide the right amount of spinal alignment, which will help in combatting pain. 

Latex mattresses can be the right choice for hot sleepers as they generally stay cool. But remember that these are not good with motion transfer. Hence, if elderly people are sharing the bed, then they might be disturbed if the other person gets in and out of bed frequently. 

4. Airbed Mattresses 

For those dealing with back pain, issues with mobility and different types of body aches, air beds are a great option. They are on the expensive side, but airbeds can be customised depending upon the needs of a person. These mattresses will also allow proper spine alignment and will last for a long time. 

On the contrary, these mattresses may not offer a lot of cushioning and can be noisy. So, they work best for people with health issues and who are going to sleep alone. 

4. Do people need a softer mattress to lie down on as they grow older? 

If you have arthritis, fibromyalgia, joint pain or body ache, then a softer mattress can be more suitable. However, if one requires more support and better spine alignment, then a firmer mattress will be needed. 

5. How important is edge support for senior people? 

A lot of times, people tend to overlook edge support, but we believe it is important. By edge support, we mean that the mattress will be able to provide the same amount of support even near the perimeter or the edges. In a lot of older mattresses, you must have seen that the edges sink too much. This makes the usable area smaller as well as reduces mobility. 

However, when the mattress can contour your body even near the edges, you can sleep anywhere on the entire bed surface. This works better for elders who may prefer sleeping near the edge so that they can get up and go to the washroom faster at night. 

6. How to purchase a good mattress on a budget? 

Seniors are often living alone and have a fixed income, which may not allow for a costly mattress. But there is nothing to worry about as you will find a lot of items that will come within your budget. You can choose “bed in a box” models, which are usually found online. So, you can wait for sales and then get one at the right time. 

Aside from that, you can add a topper to your current mattress to ensure more comfort. Also, opting for a thinner mattress is a good idea as they are less expensive. 

7. What is the right mattress firmness for you? 

The perfect mattress should not be too soft or too firm as both can lead to body aches or stiffness. So, here are a few things to consider while looking at the firmness of the best mattresses.

1. Sleeping Position

While sleeping in different positions, you exert weight on different body parts. For example, stomach sleepers will put more downward pressure on their hips than those who sleep on their back. So, stomach sleepers will need a firm mattress for the best night’s sleep. 

On the other hand, if you are a side sleeper, you will prefer a soft mattress that will mould around the pressure points in the hips and shoulders. And back sleepers can usually find both soft and firm mattresses comfortable. Their pressure points are spread across evenly; hence, one can relieve pressure by just lying down on their back. 

2. Body Weight 

If you are purchasing a mattress, calculate the BMI (body mass index) for yourself and for anybody else sleeping. And if the elderly person or couple is very heavy, a firmer mattress must be bought.For example, if the average weight of a couple is 500 pounds or above, then a soft mattress will not work. 

A firm mattress on the other hand will prevent the people from sinking in every time they get into bed. 

On the other hand, if the person has a lower BMI, then they might find medium-firm mattresses to be too hard. Their lower body weight will not allow them to sink in and sleep well. So, opt for softer mattresses with a layer of memory foam that will contour the body. 

3. Sleeping With A Partner 

If you and your partner have very different BMI, then it may be difficult for one common mattress to provide sufficient support. In this case, you can choose a medium firm mattress that will be comfortable for both, especially for relieving pressure points. 

4. Spinal Alignment 

While being awake, you make sure that your spine is supported by controlling the posture. But when you are sleeping, you have no control over the spine as the muscles relax. Hence, the sleeping surface will decide if appropriate support is provided to the spine or not. That is why some mattresses cause back aches while others contour the body and provide support. 

Now the spine has a curve, and you should look for an option that will maintain this curve along with providing relief to pressure points. Moreover, soft surfaces like memory foam mould to the body and will not allow you to sink in, providing the perfect support for spinal alignment. 

8. Is flipping the mattresses essential? 

First of all, you should know that not all mattresses are meant for flipping. Some have a firm backside, which should not be used to sleep on directly. In such cases, you can rotate the mattress to ensure you sleep on all sides. 

Alternatively, there are mattresses which can be flipped. Flipping and rotating is a good idea as you can sleep on a cooler surface with proper airflow. However, when it comes to seniors living alone, flipping a mattress is a tough job and most will not be able to do it without help. 

In this case, you can get help from a family member or a neighbour. This should be done once in three months to make the mattress last longer. 

Verdict 

The mattress firmness is something to make a note of, and we will recommend consulting a doctor in case of joint pain and bone alignment issues. 

Now, if you are looking for a thick memory foam option, then the Nectar Mattress will be a great pick. On the other hand, if you are a combination sleeper, then the Emma Original Mattress will work perfectly well. 

Also, do not forget to test out your brand-new mattress for the first few months before you decide to keep it. Most brands will allow a trial period, and you can return in case you are not satisfied.