How to Choose the Best Adjustable Bed

Sleep… essential for all but elusive for so many. We all know how important shut eye is for almost all aspects of health, but it doesn’t help those of us affected by sleeplessness and insomnia.

It turns out that we aren’t alone. Research commissioned by The Sleep Council recently found that 30% of people sleep poorly most nights. Lisa Artis, sleep advisor at The Sleep Council, comments on the importance of having a comfortable bed and mattress:

“You can do everything else right – have a dark, quiet room at the right temperature, exercise and eat well, have a relaxing bedtime routine – but if your bed isn’t fit for purpose, it will affect your sleep. A good night’s sleep plays an important role in our health, general wellbeing and even our productivity at work, so it’s very worrying that so many people are struggling.”

Instead of lying awake in the dark night after night and then facing the repercussions of lack of sleep, perhaps it’s time to be proactive. While looking around for alternative bed offerings, let’s consider the benefits of an adjustable bed.

There’s been a massive surge in demand over the last decade from people of all ages, but especially those who are a little older. But what is an rise and recline bed, how does it work and how to choose the right one?

What is an adjustable bed?

Sometimes called a rise and fall bed, the body of an adjustable bed moves at the touch of a button to a position that is ideal comfort-wise for sleeping or resting. They come as single, dual or double:

• Double means one double mattress that is operated as one unit.
• Dual means two mattresses side by side, which can be operated independently, allowing two people to continue sharing the same bed space whilst enjoying different resting or sleep positions.

Some companies sell rise and fall beds in standard sizes. Others (like us) take careful measurements, work out what additional features the user wants, and build a adjustable bed tailored to customer needs.

How does an adjustable bed work?

The base of an adjustable bed has an assortment of joints that allow it to move freely from the mattress. Each of the joints rotates a certain percentage, enabling a range of sleeping or lying positions. Adjustable beds work with a handset and are not complicated to operate.

What are the types of adjustable beds?

There are two categories: lifestyle beds and profiling beds.

Lifestyle beds

These are aimed at people who want an adjustable bed to meet their leisure and comfort requirements (e.g. lazy mornings in bed, reading or watching TV from the comfort of the bedroom). They offer a sit-up function but little else.

Profiling beds

Profiling beds offer a multitude of positions and are designed for people with particular health or medical needs. A profiling bed has a mattress that is split into sections, and the bed can be either two-, three- or four-part adjustable, depending on the functions it needs to perform.

A two-part adjustable bed has a sit up function where the upper section can be raised to facilitate sitting, reading or watching TV. It’s a bed that sits you up and is easier to get out of.

A three-part adjustable bed will also have a break midway in the mattress to raise the leg at the knee and impede slipping down the bed when sitting.

A four-part adjustable bed is as above but with the added benefit of a flat surface to sit on.

We offer five extensive collections of adjustable beds that are available in over 400 fabrics. That’s a lot of great adjustable beds to choose from!

Who are adjustable beds for?

Anyone and everyone will enjoy a rise and fall bed! But many are designed specifically for people with medical or health conditions and/or older people and the elderly. These beds sit alongside other mobility furniture that empowers people who may benefit from a helping hand when getting in and out of beds or riser recliner chairs, as well as helping manage certain health conditions, such as arthritis or poor circulation.

Features and benefits

Although the fundamental benefit of an adjustable bed is to improve sleep thanks to the wide variety of sleeping positions that can be achieved, there are a host of additional benefits, some equally important, depending on the individual situation.

Health benefits

Raising the legs at the touch of a button is great for people with poor circulation, who are often told to sleep with their legs slightly raised. For health conditions necessitating longer periods in bed, an adjustable bed facilitates comfort as the person or carer can adjust the bed’s positions throughout the day and night. This has the added benefit of reducing the risk of pressure sores.

An adjustable bed will improve more than just the users’ health – it can also make a big difference to the wellbeing of people who help care for others, reducing the neck, back and shoulder pain that is often exacerbated by helping someone into and out of bed.

Homecare beds offer an extra degree of functionality for people who need a little more care.

Lifestyle benefits

Who wouldn’t want a bed that sits you up? An adjustable bed also makes it easier for a person with back pain, arthritis, osteoporosis or reduced mobility to get in and out of bed unaided. As well as being empowering, this prolongs independent living in the home.

As the height of the bed can be adjusted when beds are made to measure, people with shorter or longer legs will finally enjoy getting in and out of bed with greater ease. And those with long legs can simply ask for a longer bed!

Buying an adjustable bed

When considering how to buy an adjustable bed, start by thinking of your current health needs and your future health needs. How high, long and wide do you want the bed to be? Then it’s time to move onto the fun stuff when working out how to choose an adjustable bed:

• How dense a mattress do you want? Would a pressure-relieving mattress suit? What about a massage function?
• Is weight an issue? Adjustable beds in the Grafham Collection are suitable for up to 56 stone (plus they have a built-in handy USB charging point).
• Do you want the bed to be higher or lower than standard, as this can be adjusted when the bed is made for you? Skittle legs as seen in the Avon Collection look smart and can make the bed lower for ease of access or higher to enable an under-bed table or hoist to be used. For a sleek, urban looking base, consider the Grasmere Collection.
• Handrails can be added if they might be helpful.
• If storage is at a premium, consider a bed with drawers underneath. The Hereford Collection has drawers at the end or the side, depending on preference.
• What headboard style do you like? The Pembroke Collection has four stylish headboards to choose from: Harrow, Hadleigh, Hampton and Hampstead.
• Upholstery: chenille, velvet, wool or something else? Would anti-microbial or waterproof upholstery be useful?
• And as for the fabrics… now the fun really starts as The Mobility Furniture Company has 400 options.

A matter of finance

An adjustable bed can be an expensive outlay, but the benefits are extensive. For particular health conditions, healthcare professionals such as occupational therapists, community nurses and GPs can give invaluable advice about various types of mobility furniture that can help.

It may be that a person’s needs or disabilities warrant an assessment by the local health authority, which could lead to an adjustable bed being provided free of charge. Failing that, any long-term illness or registered disability will exempt the person from VAT on any purchase of an adjustable bed.

Remember that all of our mechanised furniture comes with a five-year warranty, allowing you to buy an adjustable bed with even more confidence.

The bottom line

We are passionate about providing practical and innovative mobility products for the home. From adjustable beds to rise and recliner chairs, we help people ensure they have furniture that provides useful features for everyday living and improves quality of life.