As we get older, comfort and quality of sleep become more important than ever, especially for those living with frailty. The right mattress can make a real difference to how well someone rests, how easily they move and how protected they are from issues such as pressure sores or joint pain.
The Sleep Foundation reports that between 40% and 70% of older adults have chronic sleep issues, which reduce quality of life and interfere extensively with daily activities. While a new mattress might not solve all your nighttime problems, it can certainly help.
In this guide, we will explore what to look for and how the right choice can support both health and independence.
Is there a link between frailty and sleep?
Frailty is the process of the body becoming weaker and less resilient, especially when faced with illness and infection. What would usually be considered ‘minor’, such as a common cold or UTI, may lead to long-term effects in a frail person. Frailty has a massive impact on quality of life, and it can lead to sleep problems in the elderly.
Here’s how frailty may affect your loved one’s sleep:
- Less active: Frailty often leads to reduced activity levels, which may disturb the natural sleep-wake cycle and lead to irregular sleep patterns.
- Hormonal changes: Lower levels of the growth hormone, which plays a role in sleep regulation and muscle maintenance, have been linked to frailty.
- Pain: A frail older person may experience more pain and discomfort from various conditions, making it harder for them to fall asleep and stay asleep.
- Mental health: It’s not uncommon for people with frailty to experience mental health issues like anxiety and depression, which can also lead to disrupted sleep.
- Metabolic changes: Frailty often leads to changes in metabolism and inflammation in the body, which can lead to less sleep.
Once a frail older person begins losing sleep because of pain or hormone imbalances, their exhaustion can negatively impact the progression of their condition. Frailty symptoms can be managed only if your loved one is leading a healthy lifestyle, which includes getting enough sleep.
A lack of sleep can impact their frailty’s severity in a number of ways, including:
- Muscle weakness and loss: Not getting enough sleep can impair muscle protein synthesis, contributing to muscle weakness and loss. Immobility is a key component of frailty.
- Cognitive decline: A lack of sleep may lead to cognitive decline, such as not being able to think clearly or remember things, which in turn often exacerbates frailty symptoms.
- Loss of independence: Sleep deprivation makes it harder to perform daily tasks. It may also increase the risk of falls and put people in dangerous situations, leading them to depend more on carers.
- Social isolation: When feeling tired and in pain, your loved one might not want to see anyone. Without intervention to improve sleep and frailty symptoms, this may result in isolation.
- Mental health: Sleep-induced depression and anxiety can cause frailty symptoms to flare and progress quickly.
What makes a good mattress for frail older adults? Things to look for when shopping around
Sleep needs change with age, so it makes sense that your loved one’s mattress needs will evolve, too. Some characteristics of a mattress are must-haves for older adults, while others depend on their sleep position, comfort levels and preferences.
Below is a list of all the things you should consider when looking for a mattress for a frail elder:
Spinal support and alignment
A too-soft or firm mattress might not properly align the spine throughout the night, leading to pain in the neck, shoulders and lower back. As a result, your loved one might experience pressure build-up in these areas, especially if they’re already dealing with chronic conditions like arthritis, osteoporosis or frailty. Poor spinal alignment can also lead to joint and muscle strain, causing morning stiffness that carries on well into the day.
Comfort
In the world of sleep and mattresses, ‘comfort’ is defined as how closely the mattress contours your body to alleviate pressure. Frail elders often need the most comfortable and supportive mattress possible to keep their aches and pains at bay and promote a more restful night’s sleep.
Sleeping position
Whether your loved one is a back, side or front sleeper will determine the best mattress for them. For example:
- Back sleepers may need a firmer mattress to keep the contours of the body level, avoiding misalignment as much as possible
- Side sleepers typically need a softer, more adaptive mattress to cushion their shoulders and hips and align their spine.
- Front sleepers often require an extra firm mattress to prevent their bodies from sinking into the bed (this position often isn’t recommended for frail adults, as it usually leads to more pain)
Most mattresses are labelled depending on which type of sleeper they’re best for, especially if they’re zoned. Zoned mattresses are firmer in some spots than others to offer maximum support where it’s needed most.
Mattress firmness
The firmness of your loved one’s mattress can make a world of difference in their pain and sleep quality. For example, if they’re dealing with chronic pain or stiff joints, a softer mattress may contour the body more closely for better comfort.
Weight plays a big role, too. Thanks to the deep cushioning they provide, people weighing less than 130 pounds often find softer mattresses more comfortable. Those who weigh more than 230 pounds or who have limited mobility may need a firmer, more responsive mattress.
Edge support
There’s nothing worse than sitting on the edge of the bed and having it sink further than the rest of the mattress. This is especially true for frail seniors, who may depend on edge support to get themselves up and into bed safely.
Extensive testing has uncovered that innerspring and hybrid mattresses are the best options for edge support, thanks to their steel coil support cores. If your loved one has difficulty getting in and out of bed, tosses and turns a lot or requires frequent trips to the bathroom at night, consider edge support before buying a new mattress.
Mattress material and temperature regulation
The material of your loved one’s mattress will impact how it feels, how long it’ll last and how it performs. Material also determines how much heat will be trapped within the mattress throughout the night, possibly leading to extra wake-ups from discomfort. For your frail loved one, look for breathable cover fabrics, ventilated comfort layers and support cores that promote air circulation.
Thickness
Frail seniors often experience a lack of mobility, which can make it difficult to get out of bed without increasing the risk of instability or falling. To keep their bed as safe as possible, we recommend choosing a mattress with a lower profile of around 10 inches thick. Depending on the height of their bedframe, this should allow them to use their bed independently without too much strain.
Delivery options
If you’re not going to be around when the new mattress is delivered to your loved one’s home, make sure they have an option of ‘deliver to room’. This ensures the delivery drivers will set the new mattress up in your loved one’s bedroom rather than leaving it on the doorstep.
Types of mattresses to consider for frail adults
There are plenty of types of mattresses on the market, but only some are suitable for those living with frailty. Here are the viable options for your loved one:
Hybrid mattresses: Best for strong edge support
Hybrid mattresses combine the best of both worlds: cushion from foam or latex and support from a traditional innerspring base. These mattresses offer close contouring for the best comfort and less sinkage to avoid your loved one getting too hot or misaligned as they sleep.
If you’re looking for a mattress to relieve pressure and isolate motion and movement, a soft hybrid is ideal. However, for the best edge support, we recommend a firmer hybrid mattress.
Memory foam mattresses: Best for deep contouring and comfort
Memory foam mattresses are usually created with one or two layers of foam on top of a high-density base foam core. They’re amazing for contouring the body to provide better spine alignment, reducing pain and discomfort throughout the night.
The issue with memory foam mattresses is that they tend to hold more heat than other materials, so they’re not the best option if your loved one already runs hot.
Innerspring mattresses: Best for people on a budget
Innerspring mattresses are made from thin layers and a sturdy coil system. While they might not offer as much contouring as hybrid mattresses, they’re great for keeping your loved one cool at night to avoid sleep disturbances.
Some users complain that innerspring mattresses aren’t as durable as other types, and they may not offer enough cushioning if your loved one experiences chronic pain. However, they’re often good enough for people on a budget.
Latex mattresses: Best for mobility
Latex is a wonderfully resilient material that makes it more responsive to movements than memory foam. It also doesn’t hold as much heat as foam or hybrid mattresses, making it great for older adults.
If your loved one doesn’t like the ‘hug’ of memory foam or needs the extra support of a bouncier bed to help with mobility, latex is brilliant. However, it’s worth mentioning that these mattresses are often more expensive because of their material.
What about adjustable beds?
Adjustable beds can work wonders for frail older adults, especially if they have trouble getting in and out of bed on their own, or can never seem to get comfy at night. However, the mattresses they come with aren’t always the best quality or offer the most support.
The good news is that you can buy a new adjustable mattress online. Memory foam and latex mattresses are generally recommended for adjustable beds, while innerspring mattresses might not be compatible.
Just like any other mattress, aim to prioritise comfort, support and spinal alignment when buying an adjustable mattress for your frail loved one.
Tips for helping a frail senior get enough sleep
Not prioritising sleep can lead to the progression of frailty and its adverse symptoms, so it’s never been more important to get your loved one into a good sleep schedule. Here are some practical tips on how to reduce sleep problems in older adults:
- Maintain a steady sleep schedule: Encourage them to go to bed and wake up at the same time each day to support their body’s natural sleep rhythms.
- Avoid heavy meals right before bed: Eating too much late at night can increase the risk of indigestion, which may make it harder to fall and stay asleep.
- Wind down in the evening: Create a quiet, calming bedtime routine that they can enjoy to help their mind and body relax before turning in. This might include reading, meditation or journaling before bed.
- Avoid screens: Blue light is terrible for our circadian rhythm, so recommend that they unplug from their devices around an hour before bedtime.
- Encourage naps: While naps can interfere with night time sleep, they may be necessary if your loved one is struggling with extreme fatigue as a result of disturbed sleep or insomnia.
- Keep the room cool: Maintaining a cool temperature between 16 and 21°C helps the body prepare for sleep and rest more deeply.
- Block out as much light as possible: Black-out blinds will become your loved one’s best friend for aiding sleep. Keep a nightlight near the bed in case they need to get up during the night.
How Country Cousins can help
At Country Cousins, we understand the importance of a good night’s sleep for older adults – especially when dealing with frailty. To help your loved one maximise their sleep and benefit from a better routine, we’ll match them with one of our compassionate, fully-trained carers. Whether you’re looking for overnight care to provide extra support throughout the night or 24-hour live-in care for more support with their frailty, we can help.
Our live-in care services include:
- Assistance with showering, bathing, shaving and oral hygiene
- Mobility support, including getting in and out of bed
- Fostering of independence
- Frailty support, including managing and reducing symptoms
- Light housekeeping
- Preparation and cooking of nutritious meals
- Companionship and emotional support
Our friendly carers will prioritise your loved one’s sleep so you can rest easy knowing they’re in good hands, even when you can’t be with them. We’ll tailor their care plan to their individual needs, monitoring frailty symptoms and improving their sleep space for a better quality of life.
Talk to our team today
As the UK’s longest-serving introductory live-in care agency, we have been providing compassionate live-in care to those who need it since 1959 – all from the comfort of their own homes.
Give us a call today on 01293 224 706. Our experienced team is on hand to help from Monday to Friday, 8 am to 6 pm. Alternatively, contact us through our online enquiry form.
