As you age, your needs change – it’s a simple fact of life. Just like how those sandals you used to rock in your youth are no longer supportive enough for your feet, a mattress that got your through your college years will not be nearly enough to meet your body’s needs for a restorative night’s sleep.
The best mattresses for seniors should offer outstanding support and comfort so every night leads to a good night’s sleep. Check out our top-rated picks for the best mattresses that will help seniors sleep soundly.
Below we’ve highlighted our top-rated mattresses for seniors. If you want to read more about a particular mattress brand, we’ve got you covered in the next section.
Mattress |
Accolade |
Get Deal |
1. Saatva |
Editor’s Choice |
Check Price |
2. Helix |
Best for Couples |
Check Price |
3. ZenHaven |
Eco-Friendly |
Check Price |
All of the mattresses we’ve reviewed here have at least a 100-night trial period and free returns. So even though you can buy them online, you can try them out in the comfort of your own home, risk-free, to see if it’s the right mattress for you or a loved one.
By clicking on the products below, we may receive a commission at no cost to you, the reader. It’s how we fund our Mattress Lab and bring you better mattress reviews and comparisons.
| MA Score | 8.7/10 |
| Customer Rating | 4.8/5 |
| Type | Luxury Hybrid |
| Firmness | Plush Soft (3/10), Luxury Firm (5.5-6.5/10), and Firm (8/10) |
| Trial Period | 120 Days |
| Summary | Luxury mattress with free white glove delivery, set-up, and old mattress removal |
Saatva’s individually wrapped coils contour to each sleeper’s body providing support and contouring where you need it. Because the coils move independently and are covered with a plush euro pillow top, they allow sleepers to move without disturbing their partners.
An additional memory foam layer provides lumbar support to reduce stress and tension in the lower back. Their Dual Perimeter Edge Support System prevents the edge from collapsing and makes it easy for sleepers to get out of bed.
And seniors can choose from three different comfort levels for a perfect match of sleep styles and firmness preferences. An optional adjustable base makes the Saatva mattress perfect for anyone looking for relief from leg cramps, acid reflux, snoring, and lower back pain.
Reasonably priced and delivered to your home with free set-up and mattress removal, the Saatva mattress is tough to beat.
| MA Score | 8.9/10 |
| Customer Rating | 4.6/5 |
| Type | Hybrid |
| Firmness | Customizable: Varies based on selection |
| Trial Period | 100 Days |
| Summary | Personalized mattress (take the quiz!) |
Helix takes the guesswork out of finding the right comfort level by simply asking customers what they like. By answering a few questions about sleep preferences and body types, seniors get a custom-made hybrid mattress that perfectly addresses their needs.
Couples can choose mattresses that blend their comfort preferences or dual comfort mattresses that deliver personalized comfort on each side.
Custom Motion Isolation: Their combination of individually wrapped coils and personalized foam layer adjust to each sleeper’s weight and position without disturbing their partner.
Breathable for Better Sleep: Extra cooling is provided by Helix’s own super cooling foam to prevent sleepers from sleeping hot.
Seniors may need help with set up. Helix beds are delivered in a convenient box to your door. Just unwrap and allow it to expand to its full size.
| MA Score | 8.6/10 |
| Customer Rating | 4.9/5 |
| Type | Eco-friendly latex mattress |
| Firmness | Soft Side (4-5/10) and Firm Side (7-8/10) |
| Trial Period | 120 Days |
| Summary | Flippable, eco-friendly mattress offering support and comfort |
ZenHaven takes the two most preferred firmness levels and combines them on one mattress for two-sided comfort.
Most seniors will find the Luxury Plush side perfectly suits them (80% of latex customers do). Others who prefer a slightly firmer feel can use the other side with the Gentle Firm comfort layer.
Older sleepers may like to have the different comfort levels in case their needs or preferences change, although some may need help flipping the mattress. Five distinct comfort zones provide greater support where you need it most for better spinal alignment and greater comfort overall.
Zenhaven latex mattresses are naturally hypoallergenic, resistant to mold, microbes and dust mites, and there are no harsh chemicals. Natural latex sleeps cools because of an open cell structure that allows air to circulate and dissipate body heat rather than trap it.
An optional adjustable base allows seniors to choose the best possible sleep position for their individual needs. ZenHaven also comes with free white glove set-up and removal of your old mattress.
The Golden Years sound downright idyllic and relaxing, don’t they? No worries from work, playing with the grandkids, time to work on the golf swing, and the leisure and money to indulge the wanderlust — sounds like the perfect recipe for fun-filled days and restful nights.
You’d think that seniors would have no trouble at all sleeping at night. But ask any person over 65 how they sleep, and chances are, you’ll hear a host of complaints.
Trouble falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep, and sleep disturbances are more common among the elderly than any other age group. And even though retirement may mean less stress from the challenges of achieving a healthy work/life balance, other stressors that come with age plague the elderly, making a good night’s sleep increasingly elusive.
Sleep difficulties are so common among the elderly that we often assume it’s just a normal part of aging. While changes in sleep architecture are normal as we age, sleep deprivation is not.
Just because many adults function — often unwillingly — on less sleep as they get older, doesn’t mean it’s healthy for them. In fact, older adults require the same amount of sleep as they did in their 20s, and yet, for a host of reasons, they can’t get it.
Believe it or not, a change as simple as finding the best mattress for seniors could make a world of difference in your or a loved one’s sleep performance. But since there is no one mattress that will address all the various sleep challenges that seniors face, it’s helpful to understand just what is keeping older people up at night.
One consolation for seniors who can’t sleep at night is that they are not alone. Studies show that up to 50% of older people have trouble falling asleep and/or staying asleep with women experiencing insomnia more than men.
While some older people experience insomnia for no apparent reason, many elderly people have underlying medical conditions or take medications that can disrupt normal sleep patterns. Some reasons for seniors to lose sleep include:
Sleep architecture refers to the cyclic pattern of four sleep phases that repeats through the night. A normal sleep cycle consists of:
For people who experience healthy sleep patterns, this sleep cycle repeats four or five times each night. But as people age, they tend to spend less time in deep sleep stages, sometimes skipping them altogether.
This change in their sleep architecture can make them feel sleepy during the day and lead to napping. In addition, frequent sleep disturbances like those listed above disrupt seniors’ sleep cycles, leading to daytime sleepiness.
About 1% of seniors also experience a circadian rhythm disorder called Advanced Sleep Phase Disorder (ASPD) that signals an earlier bedtime (between 7 and 9:00 pm) and an earlier rising time (about 3 or 5:00 am) than the rest of society.
Now there’s nothing wrong with following an “early to bed, early to rise” schedule, but it can be isolating from family and friends.
Certain lifestyle changes can help seniors overcome some of these sleep challenges. These improvements to sleep hygiene include:
Can a mattress really make much of a difference in sleep quality? Absolutely. A good mattress is crucial for healthy, restorative sleep.
A study conducted at the Oklahoma State University found that newer, more comfortable mattresses reduced back pain and stress and improved sleep performance among participants with chronic aches and pains that compromised their sleep.
Older people can easily convince themselves that they don’t need a new mattress. Difficulty with mobility can make shopping at a brick and mortar store too taxing. Others may think a new mattress will cost too much money and may be reluctant to spend money on something they’re not sure they need.
But buying a new mattress doesn’t have to be difficult or costly and could be the best investment in health seniors can make. Researching mattresses online before you shop will reduce the time spent trying mattresses in stores.
Alternatively, online mattress companies offer some of the best mattresses for seniors, delivered right to your front door or set up in your home, at prices that often beat those at mattress stores.
How do you know if you need a new mattress? Even if you think a mattress is fine, the Better Sleep Council recommends replacing your mattress every seven years especially if:
These are all signs that a mattress should be replaced.
Finally, since a new mattress will improve sleep performance, seniors can reap significant health benefits from the investment. Consistently sleeping well on a comfortable mattress results in:
On the other hand, according to WebMD, people who sleep poorly put themselves at risk for:
With so much at stake, the cost of a mattress that will increase the quality of sleep seems well worth the money. In fact, a mattress that costs $1,000 and lasts seven years will cost about 40 cents per night — a small price to pay for good health and well-being.
And while new mattresses will not overcome all sleep challenges seniors face, they can help alleviate some common issues that keep older people from getting the sleep they need.
In general, the best mattresses for seniors have sufficient support to maintain neutral spine alignment, enough contouring to relieve pressure points (think heels, hips, shoulders), and some means for regulating body temperature.
Mattresses with firm edge support will not only prevent sagging and last longer but also make it easier to get in and out of bed.
For many seniors, the best mattress will address their individual sleep challenges. High-density memory and latex foam mattresses that are medium or medium firm are especially good choices for seniors who suffer from:
High-density foam mattresses contour the body, gently supporting joints and the spine, and relieve pressure on compression points like heels, hips, and shoulders.
Adjustable beds are especially good choices for seniors who struggle with:
Lying flat can be uncomfortable for many seniors, especially back sleepers. Raising the top portion of the bed and elevating the feet can take pressure off the back, and improve circulation.
An elevated upper body helps to open airways, relieving sleep apnea and minimizing snoring, finally giving older people the solid night’s sleep they need and deserve. Take a look at our favorite adjustable beds here.
Hybrid mattresses, or mattresses made of innerspring and foam, may be the best of all worlds for many seniors.
They combine the firmness and “push-back” of an innerspring, making it easy to move around and get out of bed, with the “hug” of a foam mattress to relieve pressure points, which are important to people with aching joints. Coil support cores allow for significant airflow keeping sleepers cool and comfortable naturally.
Natural latex foam mattresses provide seniors the benefits of memory foam without some of the drawbacks. Latex provides the “hug” and contouring of memory foam without sleeping hot.
It offers superior pressure point relief for those aching muscles and joints and virtually eliminates motion transfer. That means you won’t wake up every time your partner rolls over or goes to the bathroom.
Seniors need and deserve to get the good night’s sleep that a quality mattress can provide. While a mattress can’t solve all of your sleep challenges, a good mattress that suits your needs can give you the best shot at a good night’s sleep possible.
If you have any questions about any of our picks or other mattresses, drop us a line. We’ll do our best to answer your questions.
Take our mattress finder quiz and get personalized results based on your preferences and sleeping style.
Take Mattress QuizThe team at Mattress Advisor has spent 1,200+ hours personally testing, evaluating, comparing, and reviewing mattresses. Our proprietary scoring system takes into account 14 scientific and human elements to provide you with the information you need to navigate the murky waters of mattress shopping.
Here at Mattress Advisor, we’re relentless in our pursuit to help you live your best days by getting your best night’s sleep. Have a question? Drop us a line. We’re happy to help.
A very nice blog suggestion for what should be the preferred mattress for seniors which release back pain.
Soho Matteresses are the best mattress for back pain and which distributes your weight equally and which makes feel
extra soft comfort and takes the shape of your body when you sleep.
These are some very valuable tips. Mattresses are expensive but more importantly your sleep is very important. You dont wanna wake up in pain a bed is made to make you feel good and you can relax. Should have a mattress that you love to sleep in. I found a lot of tips here that i really will use to find my next mattress
Comments (2)