Sleep is Vital
“Sleep is that golden chain that ties health and our bodies together.”
– Thomas Dekker, Elizabethan dramatist and writer
For those with debilitating aches, pains, or disability, sleep can be elusive. Finding a comfortable position, getting in and out of bed as needed, feeling secure and supported by your bed – it can all add up to lost sleep, which in turn can make your condition worsen and lower your tolerance for pain and discomfort. Being exhausted is exhausting, and it often leads to feeling trapped in a cycle.
In order to tackle this epidemic of poor sleep among disabled and older people, Modern Mobility is committed to helping our customers understand their options when it comes to home adaptation and mobility solutions for a more restful night. We’ve written previously about the benefits of an adjustable bed, but for those who are already interested in upgrading their sleep experience with one, this guide exists to help you choose the right adjustable bed for you.
You have a right to quality rest, and it’s time to take charge of your sleep.
Topics in this article:
Importance of Finding the Right Bed
It’s widely known that poor-quality sleep can have dire effects on both mental and physical health, as well as cognitive function. As a general rule of thumb, a healthy adult requires between 7 – 9 hours of quality sleep a night, but factors such as age and health can affect these needs. As we age or experience illness, our sleep patterns become disturbed. Circadian rhythms influence feelings of hunger, the times at which a person feels tired or awake, and when the body releases certain hormones. Throughout our lives, our circadian rhythms are constantly evolving, reacting to our bodies as they age or experience illness or injury. If you are finding that your ability to get a good night’s sleep is growing worse, it might be time to look at your sleeping conditions, namely your bed.
Bases
When looking for an adjustable bed, we would recommend starting from the bottom and working upwards, beginning with deciding on the type of base. While it can be easy to only priortise the mattress and mechanical features of the beds you’re comparing, the base and headboard are just as important in their own ways. As the least technical aspects of a bed, first deciding on the base and headboard type is a simpler step before delving deeper into the more specialist components of an adjustable bed.
There are three main types of bases to consider, all with their own characteristics and advantages.
Castors
A bed base with castors allows the bed to be moved around the room with less effort, should your needs change. For example, should you need to add more equipment to your bedroom such as a riser chair or frames.
Legs
Bases with legs, comparatively, offer support and stability, providing a bed that won’t easily budge once installed. Some people prefer beds with legs as they allow clearance underneath the bed for storing items, or unobstructed access for regularly keeping the underneath of the base clean. In some cases the legs can be switched to adjust the clearance beneath the bed.
End Drawer
Enjoy extra space for bedding, clothing and shoes, or even medical supplies with a bed base that includes an end drawer. Make the most of your space and enjoy a clutter-free bedroom with the extra storage benefits of an end drawer base.
Headboards
Headboards can transform the feel of a bed, and are the easiest way to match your new adjustable bed to your bedroom’s style. When choosing a headboard, most people match the base to the headboard colour, and opt for a shape that reflects their style, be that ultra-modern or retro, minimalistic or ostentatious. We recommend a padded, material-covered headboard for comfort.
Available in Silver, Anthracite, Citrus, Cobalt, and Taupe, we offer over sophisticated 15 headboard options to suit everyone’s tastes, from the muted minimalist to the contemporary maximalist.
Mattresses
For anyone shopping for a new bed, the mattress is a big decision – that is felt even more so for people looking for an adjustable bed because they have an illness or disability. Sleep is a vital part of maintaining the best health possible, which is why there are so many mattress options available. Finding your perfect mattress is all about choosing the one that best supports your quest for comfortable, quality rest.
Soft & Supportive
Melt into a world of better sleep with the MiBed memory foam mattress, which perfectly moulds to your body for a premium sleep experience. Durable and built to last for years of comfortable sleep, the Memory Mattress conforms perfectly to the body.
For a more supportive memory foam experience, the Memory Hybrid mattress combines the pressure-relieving comfort of memory foam with the supportive nature of pocket springs to deliver unparalleled support and comfort for better night’s rest. Not only does this mattress promote better spinal alignment, it is also an excellent choice for couples.
Environmentally-conscious
Not only is the Latex on Pocket mattress supportive and hypoallergenic thanks to its environmentally friendly latex, it is also incredibly durable. The comfort of natural latex unlocks a new way to enjoy better, more rejuvenating sleep for years to come, so you can look after the environment while your mattress looks after you.
For eco-friendly sleepers, the Natural Mattress is the perfect blend of customisable comfort and natural, hypoallergenic benefits. Made by blending traditional materials with modern convenience, this mattress includes wool, cashgora, and cotton fillings, making it ideal for those with allergies or sensitivities.
Cool & Comfortable
If you need the convenience and comfort of an adjustable bed, but find yourself often getting too hot at night while trying to sleep, the cool gel-infused mattress is the ideal solution for you. The Gel Cool Mattress balances memory foam feel with refreshing cooling technology for improved sleep quality no matter the season.
Adaptable, personalised support to cradle every part of your body; that’s what the Pocket Mattress has to offer. With its sophisticated system of nestled pocket springs, this mattress offers precise, reliable body support. Adaptive pocket springs move independently for an individualised sleep experience that delivers targeted support and luxurious comfort.
Types of Adjustable Beds
There is so much information about adjustable beds available that it can be hard to filter out the noise and get to the crux of what you want to know. When it comes to familiarsing yourself with the types of adjustable beds, we have broken down the basic need-to-know information to help you understand what might best suit you.
Most adjustable beds are classed as ‘profiling’ beds, meaning their bases can be adapted in a variety of ways to support the postural needs of the user. These traits make profiling beds ideal for those with specific medical requirements, as the range of adjustability means the bed can effectively ‘move’ with the user as their needs develop.
The most basic bed of this kind is the two-part adjustable bed, which has an adjustable tilting back to aid in a ‘sit up’ motion. Three-part adjustable beds also offer the ability to raise the back while additionally allowing the feet to be raised and the knee area to be supported with a knee ‘break’. This helps to reduce the pressure on the lower back and improve circulation. Similarly, four-part adjustable beds have the same adaptation functions as the three-part, but with a flat seat section in the middle. This allows users who have adjusted their back and knee sections perfectly to maintain their desired adjustments while also giving them a seat area from which they can more easily get in and out of the bed.
Modern Mobility’s range of adjustable beds all come complete with the distinguished Executive Base, which offers three-part technology with a 25 stone weight capacity, ergonomic remote control, sprung beech slats, and emergency lowering in the event of a power cut. The Executive Base is our standard offering, but we can work with you to provide other base options that better suit your needs if required.
Make The Most of Your New Bed
Once you have an adjustable bed to call your own, it’s time to get serious about sleep. To get the most benefit from your bed, it is a good idea to commit to understanding what helps you enjoy a better night’s sleep, and adapt your habits and environment accordingly.
The NHS outlines the following better sleep tips as essential to getting a restful night:
- Have a good bedtime and sleep routine (sometimes known as ‘sleep hygiene’)
- Relax, unwind, or try meditation to help you sleep
- Explore sleep-focused mindfulness exercises
- Create the right sleep environment (think light, temperature, and clutter)
- Do not force sleep
- Improve sleep through diet and activity levels
For more general advice, our Home Adaptations section has advice on accessibility across the home, while blogs covering our top 10 daily living aids and tips for making your home more wheelchair accessible could also be useful.
Bedrooms and Beyond
Whether you’re looking for a mobility scooter or powerchair to get you out and about, or a riser recliner or adjustable bed to keep you comfy and safe at home, Modern Mobility can help. Speak to our helpful mobility experts today, or visit us in one of our four store locations at Blackburn, Clitheroe, Chorley, or Leicester.
