Tips to Choose The Best Adjustable Beds for Seniors

Guide for the 5 Best Adjustable Beds for Seniors

Furniture and mattress stores usually offer a good selection of adjustable beds, but you can find a larger inventory by buying directly from an adjustable bed manufacturer. Once you decide on the adjustable bed base, you’ll want to shop for the best type of mattress.

1. Leggett and Platt

One of the leading adjustable bed companies, Leggett and Platt, offers a variety of adjustable bed models, including premium and performance models. While these beds are fairly expensive, they are regarded as some of the best adjustable beds for seniors and others. Leggett and Platt offers 16 models of adjustable beds, so you should be able to find one that fits your needs. However, you should decide on the features you need for your adjustable bed when comparing different models.

Prodigy 2.0 Adjustable Bed Base

Prodigy 2.0 is an adjustable bed base that features several desirable bells and whistles. The first feature that attracts many buyers is the Wallhugger® engineering that allows the mattress to lift up and glide back toward the wall, so the bedside table is still reachable. Another desirable feature is the MicroHook? technology that eliminates the mattress retainer bar, but keeps the mattress from slipping forward on the bed. This feature provides a better decor look since the hump at the end of the bed is eliminated.

Other features include:

• Under bed lighting provides night light when needed.
• Auto pillow tilt adjusts when the back is raised.
• USB ports facilitate easy bedside device charging.
• Programmable two positions on remote with four on the app provide customization.
• Lumbar support is adjustable for whatever amount of support you require.
• Massage, dual and full body with wave action add to comfort.
• Apple and Android apps for controls, in addition to your remote control. App controls various bed features, such as massage wave, sleep timer, and alarm clock.
• 1 year full warranty with limited 3-year and 25-year warranties provide protection.
• Comes in various sizes including Twin XL, queen split king, and king.
• Total Weight capacity is up to 850 lbs.
• Price range for adjustable base: Around $1,350 to $3,100.

2. GhostBed Adjustable Bed

GhostBed Adjustable Base has lots of bells and whistles for anyone wanting an adjustable bed base. GhostBed adjustable base has received several awards such as:

• Slumber Yard, Best Adjustable Base 2020
• Our Sleep Guide, Most Adjustable Base Features 2020
• The Sleep Judge, Best Adjustable Base 2020

Some of the GhostBed adjustable base features include:

• Your head elevated to any position desired
• Unlimited positions for the foot of bed
• Multiple pre-set positions to make adjusting bed easier
• Dual settings for head and foot massage
• USB ports located on both sides of bed
• Child lock
• Anti-snore position
• LED lighting located under the bed for night light or ambience
• 15 whisper-quiet simultaneous head and foot massage modes and pain targeting
• Zero gravity mode for back pain relief
• Available in Twin XL, queen, and split king
• Weight capacity: 750 lbs
• Price range for adjustable base only: Around $800 – $1,600

3. Tempur-Pedic Adjustable Beds

Tempur-Pedic adjustable beds come with a 90-night trial. The Tempur-Pedic mattresses are perhaps better known than the company’s adjustable bases. Tempur-Pedic boasts several awards and industry recognition for their innovative beds.

• Popular Mechanics® Home Awards
• J.D. Power recognition as #1 in Customer Satisfaction with retail mattresses for 2020, 2019, and 2017
• Space Technology Hall of Fame, inducted in 1998

TEMPUR-Ergo® Smart Base

TEMPUR-Ergo® Smart Base offer seniors valuable monitoring tools to help improve sleep. For example, Sleeptracker®-AI sensors work while you sleep, monitoring your sleeping activity, your various sleep stages, and even the bedroom environment impact on your sleep patterns. Sleeptracker® monitors your sleep through Hey Google.

Get Your Sleep Score

You can access your Sleep Score to see what may be interfering with a good night’s sleep, or if your sleep pattern is improving. There is even a sleep coach in-app that can sense snoring and automatically raise your head to reduce your snoring. If you have a smart phone, your TEMPUR-Ergo® Smart base will connect seamlessly.

Other notable features include:

• Massage 3 levels of intensity in 4 zones or 2 zones
• Zero gravity position elevates your head and feet to relieve pressure on your back
• Under the bed LED lighting can serve as a night light or be used for ambience
• Companion app is available for iPhone or Android smart phones
• 10-year limited warranty for repair or replacement (free)
• Available in full, queen, king, California king, Split King, Split California king sizes
• Weight capacity: 800 lbs
• Price for adjustable base only: Around $1,600 to $3,000

4. Craftmatic Adjustable Beds

Craftmatic is one of the best known adjustable bed manufacturers on the market. Rated #1 on Consumeraffairs.com by consumers, the company offers a 30-day in home trial.

Craftmatic® Legacy Adjustable Base

The Craftmatic® Legacy adjustable base is the most popular Craftmatic adjustable base. It has many desirable features that seniors will find helpful, such as a two-zone, timed, full body massager, and adjustable pillow. If you have grandchildren or pets, you’ll appreciate the child and pet safety lock.

Other desirable features include:

• Programmable zero gravity and anti-snore button
• Whisper quiet motors for head and leg
• Bedside power plugs for charging cell phones and tablets
• Lifetime limited position changing mechanism warranty (includes motors, gears, controls, and electrical system)
• Sizes: Twin, full, queen, dual queen, king, dual king, California king, and dual California king
• Weight capacity: 450 lbs lift weight, 600 lbs (heavy duty models)
• Price for adjustable base only: Around $1,800 to $6,000

5. Saatva Adjustable Beds

Saatva is best known for its luxury mattresses. However, it has an adjustable base that can be matched up with one of the company’s outstanding mattresses.

Saatva Lineal Adjustable Base

The Saatva Lineal adjustable base is a wall hugging bed design that allows you to still reach everything on your nightstand when the back is raised. The adjustable base has several desirable features for seniors.

• Head and foot massage, wave action
• LED lighting under the bed for night light or ambience
• Fits most bed frames, even platforms
• Smart remote control
• Multiple positions include Zero Gravity to support back
• Settings/positions promote healthy spine alignment
• Whispersoft motor
• Full body wave massage, head massage, or leg massage with three speeds
• 25-year warranty
• Non-returnable and no home trial
• Sizes: Twin, Twin XL, full, queen, split queen, king, split king, California king, and split California king
• Weight capacity: 850 lbs.
• Price for adjustable base: Around $1,200 to $2,500

Tips for How to Choose an Adjustable Bed for Seniors

Once considered a luxury, adjustable beds are fast becoming a popular option for people looking for high-quality sleep systems. As baby boomers enter their golden years, they’re realizing that an investment in a good night’s sleep can pay dividends in the form of better health and well-being. A few tips can help you learn how to choose an adjustable bed for seniors.

Important Features

If you’re thinking about purchasing an adjustable bed, you should familiarize yourself with the different features and options. Unlike traditional mattresses, there’s more to consider than just how the mattress feels. Understanding the different components will allow you to make an informed decision.

Motor

As you gather research before choosing an adjustable bed, the durability of the motor should be a key consideration.

• One way to evaluate the durability of the motor is to see how long the manufacturer’s warranty covers it. The longer the warranty, the more likely it is that the motor is built to last.
• Another key to evaluating durability is determining whether the bed’s motor is an AC or DC. Alternating current (AC) is the type of electricity commonly used in homes, while direct current (DC) is found in automobiles. DC motors tend to be smaller and less expensive, and they are typically quieter. On the other hand, AC motors, while louder, tend to be more durable.

Hand Controls

When evaluating the hand controls for an adjustable bed, remember these two key points:

• Review the menu options. Are they intuitive or will you have to keep the user guide on your nightstand?
• Understand the difference between wired and wireless remotes. If the bed has a wireless remote, you should know that wireless signals sometimes interfere with other household appliances, like cordless phones or microwaves. And if you’re prone to misplacing the remote, remember that the bed won’t move without it. If you lose it, you’ll have to pay to replace it or get used to the last position in which you left the bed.

Warranties and Service

Find out exactly what your warranty covers before you purchase.

• With an adjustable bed, different components can have various warranty periods and may only cover certain issues, so make sure to read the fine print on each one.
• Find out how much the manufacturer charges for a service call.
• Unlike a traditional mattress, an adjustable bed has moving parts that can break down. Understand what those expenses might be before making your final decision.

How to Choose an Adjustable Bed Mattress

With an adjustable bed, the mattress isn’t the only component to consider, but it’s certainly an important one. Many options are available, but memory foam mattresses are a good choice for seniors.

• Memory foam mattresses are typically most comfortable and can provide a better night’s sleep for seniors.
• Memory foam is also better for durability and flexibility.
• The right mattress can provide pressure relief – an important feature to combat the aches and pains typically associated with aging; memory foam is highly rated for this.

Spend Time Before Money

Choosing an adjustable bed should include some research and some trips to mattress stores to feel the mattresses to see if they’re comfortable for you; remember that there is not one mattress type that is universally comfortable for every person.

Saving Money

Adjustable beds typically cost more than traditional beds. Note that adjustable beds may not include the mattress in their selling price. Buying from a discount retailer like Costco can save money, but if the adjustable mattress is deemed “medically necessary” by your medical provider and you are a Medicare recipient, the cost of the bed may be partially or completely covered.

Split Beds

Adjustable beds for two are available, but will probably cost more. These beds allow partners to personalize their adjustments on each side and are a good option for couples who differ in their sleep needs and comfort preferences.

Best Adjustable Beds for Seniors Mean Better Sleep

An adjustable bed can make a big difference in the quality of your sleep. Spend some time reviewing the best adjustable beds for seniors to make the right choice for you.