Deciding the best bed height for elderly folks is really dependent on a couple of different factors, but mainly, the height of the person using the bed and if they have mobility limitations.
Many of the elderly have been sleeping in the same bedroom and bed for decades and find making changes difficult. But, eventually, reality calls for changes in routine and environment and the bedroom is a place that needs to be accessible. If the bed is too high, the person using it will have trouble getting into it and may even slide out of it onto the floor. If the bed is too low, they may have trouble standing up from sitting on the edge. Either of these scenarios mean more diligence and work by the caregiver.
If you’re buying a new bed or mattress and wanting to know how high should a bed be for seniors, you’ll want to measure the distance from the base of their heel to the top of their knee cap and that will give you a rough idea of how high the surface of the bed should be from the floor.
This distance allows the person to sit comfortably and deep enough into the bed, but, with their feet flat on the floor, safe and secure. It also ensures that they are sitting at an adequate height that makes getting out of bed a lot easier too. And again, if the bed is at the correct height, it means a lot less work a caregiver has to do.
If you’re purchasing a new bed or mattress set, it’s important to keep in mind the overall height of whole bed when combined. If you plan to use a mattress “topper” or air mattress for pressure relief, don’t forget to add the thickness of either of these to the total height.
If you’re considering a “hospital style” electric bed with elevating head and leg portions, understand that these types of beds are generally higher than traditional beds as they need to accommodate the electric motors under the bed and access to them. This means that they may not be available in the height your need if the person using it is on the shorter side.
One last thing. You may consider if you will be using a bedrail also. Most bedrails are adjustable to a certain degree. Some more than others. But the height of the bedframe or thickness of the mattress may limit the type of bedrail you need. For more information on this I have written about bedrails here.
Bryan Williams
Physical Therapist
is a licensed therapist with near 30 years of professional experience treating a diverse patient population in a multitude of settings. With simple strategies, he educates and empowers his clients with simple strategies to help them move better and with less pain.