As people get older, they often need to think carefully about the sort of mattress they sleep on. After all, a mattress that is comfortable and supportive for an 18 year old is likely to feel different for a senior citizen!

When sleep becomes difficult, it can have a big impact on lifestyle and overall health, so seniors should consider carefully their particular needs when selecting a mattress.

Before buying, it is important to note that the mattress should be supportive, comfortable, and resilient - three key points to consider for a senior’s mattress.

A supportive mattress is important for back pain prevention and management. An overly-soft mattress can cause muscles to strain excessively, whilst an overly-stiff mattress can create tension points and prevent the body from enjoying good sleep quality. It is best therefore to choose a mattress that is neither too soft or too firm, and offers a good balance of comfort and support. A supportive mattress is usually a memory foam, latex or hybrid.

Comfort is also important. A mattress should be able to contour closely to a person’s body shape, providing areas of support for hips and shoulders for example, whilst still providing enough cushioned comfort for a good nights sleep. A mattress with a pillow-top or pillow layer is often a good option for comfort.

Finally, resilience is important. This means that the mattress should remain supportive and comfortable over the long-term, bouncing back to its original shape night after night. A good indicator of a mattress’s resilience is its coil gauge. Generally, a lower-number coil gauge is more supportive, with more coils providing better support and preventing inevitable sinkage.

In conclusion, senior citizens may want to opt for a memory foam, latex, or hybrid mattress – all of which offer a good balance of comfort and support. When comparing mattresses, checking the coil gauge and additional pillow-top layers can be helpful in determining the mattress’s resilience. More than anything else, however, it is important to consider individual needs and opt for the type of mattress that will ensure a relaxed, restful night’s sleep.