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January 3, 2022
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What We Like ↓Older adults experience more sleep difficulties than any other age group, and poor sleep can dramatically affect a person’s quality of life. Whether your sleep issues stem from pain, insomnia, sleep apnea, medication side effects, or something else, an adjustable bed may be able to improve your sleep and your overall well-being.
The full benefits of an adjustable bed for seniors depend on the brand and model you select, but even the most simple model can have a variety of therapeutic outcomes. Today, the adjustable bed market is booming and is projected to grow another $3.4 billion in 2021 alone, so how do you know which of the hundreds of brands will fit you and your lifestyle best?
To help you narrow down your choices, my team of experts and I created this guide of the best adjustable beds for seniors.
Pro Tip: For people with COPD, sleep can be especially difficult; however, oxygen concentrators offer some relief. To learn more, read our guides to the best portable oxygen concentrators and how to create a COPD care plan.
As we searched for the best of the best adjustable beds for older adults, we focused on a range of characteristics. The traits we paid the most attention to are listed below:
History of the Adjustable Bed: In 1909, Will Dr. Willis Dew Gatch invented the first adjustable bed so, without moving, his patients could sit up and he could properly drain their surgical lacerations.
| Model | Price | Sizes | Warranty | Trial period | Extra features |
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| Leggett and Platt Prodigy Comfort Elite | $1,475 – $2,650 | Twin, Twin XL, Full, Full XL, Queen, Split King, Split Cal King | 20 years | Varies based on retailer |
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| Saatva Lineal Adjustable Base | $1,199 – $2,498 | Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, Split Cal King, Split King, Cal King, King | 25 years | None |
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| GhostBed Adjustable Base | $1,399 – $2,798 | Twin XL, Queen, Split King | Lifetime | 101 nights |
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| Amerisleep Adjustable Bed+ | $1,800 – $3,000 | Twin XL, Queen, King, Cal King, Split King | 10 years | 100 nights for mattresses, no returns for adjustable beds |
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| Purple Ascent | $899 – $1,798 | Twin XL, Queen, King, Split King | 10 years | 100 nights |
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Price: $2,195
Pros
Cons
With nearly half a century producing adjustable bases, Leggett & Platt sells over nine adjustable beds ranging from approximately $600 to $3,000, and focuses on constantly improving their products’ innovation, efficiency, and reliability.
One of the company’s more recent releases, the Prodigy Comfort Elite, takes luxury up a notch with new technology such as custom lumbar support and a gentle-wake alarm. Unfortunately, the company’s products are sold through independent distributors only, so you cannot purchase your bed directly from the company’s informational website. As a result, trial periods and return policies depend upon the retailer where you make your purchase. The base’s warranty, however, remains 20 years, regardless of where you purchase it.
Did You Know: To make the most of this smart adjustable base, you’ll need a good smartphone. To learn more, check out our guides to the best smartphones for seniors, best Android phones for seniors, and best iPhones for seniors.
Price: $1,599
Pros
Cons
GhostBed originated when Marc Werner of the world’s largest ladder manufacturing company, Werner, decided, after three surgeries and endless pain when attempting to get comfortable in bed, that he wanted to design the ultimate mattress. Today, the brand sells six unique mattresses, three bed frames, and a variety of bedding, pillow, and headboard options.
As for the GhostBed Adjustable Base, it allows you to fully customize your bed for sleeping, relaxing, or recovering. It’s specifically designed to aid pain relief, with choices such as zero gravity and full-body massage. Equipped with a range of other comforts and luxuries, the GhostBed also comes with excellent trial and warranty options.
Fairly affordable compared to other luxury brands with advanced features, GhostBed even provides free next-day shipping within the contiguous U.S. and free white-glove delivery.
You can purchase the GhostBed Adjustable Base and any of their mattresses, including auto-firming smart beds, through GhostBed’s e-commerce site or in person at the company’s brick-and-mortar store in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. After your purchase, you’ll have a 101-night free trial to make sure the bed fits your needs.
The base comes with a lifetime warranty covering all components for one year and the frame for as long as you own the bed. An extended warranty that covers all parts for three years is available for an added charge. Should you want to return your GhostBed Adjustable Bed, you have 100 days to do so after your purchase. Of course, the company requires that you use the product for at least 30 days so that you’ve had enough time to completely adjust to the bed. Returned GhostBeds are donated or recycled, depending on your location.
Price: $1,399
Pros
Cons
Saatva launched in 2011, and the company has since grown in size and adjustable bed options. Today, Saatva is one of the more popular adjustable bed brands out there, with nine adjustable bed sizes to choose from.
Saatva beds must be purchased online, though one viewing room in New York City provides customers who want a more traditional in-person shopping experience. Saatva’s Lineal Adjustable Base offers eight different size options, including Split King and Split Cal King. Each of them comes with advanced luxury features that allow just about any type of sleeper to do so comfortably.
The one downside of Saatva is that all sales are final. There are no trial or refund options. Fortunately, the 25-year limited warranty helps take away the sting of no trial or return possibilities. During the first five years, the company will replace any defective part of your bed at no cost to you. After that, Saatva will replace only steel and mechanical base parts found to be defective. Sadly, the warranty does not cover any electrical components, drive motors, or massage motors.
Price: $2,000
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Established in 2010, Amerisleep is an eco-friendly online retailer that sells bed frames, mattresses, and other sleep products. Their famous bed and base designs promote health and improve conditions like acid reflux, sleep apnea, snoring, and restless leg syndrome.
You can purchase an Amerisleep Adjustable Bed+ via one online payment on Amerisleep’s website, through financing on the website with Klarna, or in one of the company’s 12 brick-and-mortar stores located in Arizona, Colorado, Oregon, and Texas.
Amerisleep does not offer trials or refunds for its adjustable beds; however, they do come with a 10-year warranty. For the first year, repairs and replacements are covered by Amerisleep. After that, Amerisleep offers a limited warranty for years two through five. Amerisleep may replace parts, but the customer is responsible for service and transportation costs related to new parts during this time, and the defective parts must be returned to their facility within 14 days. During years six through 10, replacement parts are available at a prorated cost based on the number of months that have passed since the fifth year of ownership.
Price: $999
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After Purple launched its Kickstarter campaign and related social media ads in 2015, it became a viral, overnight success. Today, the company sells a variety of comfort and sleep products, and is worth approximately $2.2 billion. One of Purple’s two adjustable bases, the Purple Ascent Adjustable Bed, is sleek and fits in most existing bed frames. It is specifically designed to help improve your quality of sleep by providing budget-friendly and premium, customizable support for your mattress.
Purple sells most of its products at select retailers such as Mattress Firm, Macy’s, and Bed Bath & Beyond. However, adjustable bases are available for purchase only from Purple online or at one of their 2,000 storefronts across the United States.
You can pay for the entire item upfront or partner with companies like Affirm or Splitit for financing. You have 100 calendar days from the date of delivery to return your Purple Ascent bed. Since the adjustable base can take some getting used to, Purple requires that you wait 21 days before returning your order. The Purple Ascent also comes with a 10-year limited warranty, which includes two years for repairs, five years for parts, and 10 years for repairs on mechanical base parts.
Older adults can benefit tremendously from adding an adjustable bed or base to their sleep routine, specifically those who struggle with pain or mobility. Some of the potential benefits of adjustable beds include:
If you’re looking to find the perfect adjustable bed, the key is to research your options. Start by making a list of features you’re interested in and see which manufacturers specialize in them. Also, pay close attention to the warranty policy.
In our extensive tests, the Saatva Lineal Adjustable Base is the highest-rated adjustable bed currently on the market.
An adjustable bed, including a hospital bed, may be covered under Medicare Part B as durable medical equipment, but only under certain conditions. You must have a specific medical need for it, and it must be prescribed by a doctor. The supplier must also accept the Medicare assignment. If your purchase fulfills all these requirements, Medicare may reimburse you up to 80 percent of the cost.
You are eligible for a durable medical equipment prescription for an adjustable bed if you need it to relieve pain or promote alignment. Of course, your doctor must also consider your need a medical necessity.
Adjustable beds can help seniors avoid pain and other discomforts that come as a natural consequence of aging. In fact, using an adjustable bed helps prevent new medical conditions, minimize symptoms caused by current disorders, and keep pain at bay for chronic issues like fibromyalgia or arthritis.
Ideally, a senior’s bed should be 20 to 23 inches off the ground to make it easier to lower one’s body and stand up.
