How to choose the best mattress for older adults: firmness, height, and materials
By the Morfeo sleep team, mattress manufacturers in Yecla (Murcia) · Updated in September 2026
Quick answer
The best mattress for an older person has medium-high firmness: it supports the back and doesn't sink, making it easier to turn over and get up. It should also be breathable (pocket springs help) and leave the bed at a total height of around 45–50 cm, so that when sitting on the edge, their feet rest flat on the floor. Try it at home for several weeks before deciding.
In this guide
As the years go by, the way we sleep changes: sleep becomes lighter, it's harder to turn over, and getting up in the morning requires an effort that wasn't noticeable before. A mattress that was comfortable in your 40s can become a surface that sinks, gets hot, and makes it harder to get out of bed in your 70s. This guide is for anyone choosing a mattress for themselves or their parents, with criteria that can be checked.
The 6 keys to choosing a mattress for older people
Medium-high firmness
Supports the lumbar area without punishing the shoulders and hips. Neither soft nor like a "board".
That it doesn't sink
If the body gets stuck, every turn and every exit from the bed takes more effort.
Bed at 45–50 cm
Adding the base and mattress. Makes it easier to sit and get up with feet well supported.
Breathable
Many older people wake up because of the heat. Pocket springs allow air to circulate.
Width with margin
If they sleep alone, a 105 cm mattress instead of 90 cm leaves more space to turn over without getting close to the edge.
Try it at home
Five minutes in a store says nothing. The body needs several weeks to adapt.
Is it time to change their mattress?
If 2 or more are met, the mattress is no longer helping
- They get up with more pain or stiffness than when lying down
- A dip is noticeable where they sleep
- The mattress is more than 8–10 years old
- When sitting on the edge, it gives way and it's hard to get up
Try it for up to 100 nights at home. If you're not convinced, we'll collect it free of charge on the mainland.
The firmness an older person needs
The most repeated recommendation is medium or medium-high firmness. A mattress that is too soft lets the pelvis sink: the spine doesn't work properly and, moreover, getting out of that "hole" requires strength in the arms and legs. One that is too hard concentrates the weight on the shoulders and hips, the areas that suffer the most with age.
In chronic lumbar pain there is a useful fact: a clinical trial conducted in Spain with 313 people found less pain and disability with mattresses of medium firmness ("medium-firm") than with very firm mattresses (Kovacs et al., The Lancet, 2003).
Morfeo mattress firmness scale
In green, the range we recommend for older people: medium-high as a starting point and high if they have trouble moving or sleep on their back. Below each model, its height.
Memory foam, pocket springs or latex
There is no single best material: there is one that solves each person's main problem better.
| Material | Turning over and getting up | Heat | Pressure relief |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thick memory foam | Harder: it adapts slowly and "hugs" | Retains more heat | Very good |
| Pocket springs | Easy: responds quickly | Cool: air circulates | Good |
| Latex | Easy: it's elastic | Medium | Good |
| Hybrid (springs + thin memory foam layer) | Easy | Cool | Good |
That is why the entire Morfeo range of home mattresses is hybrid (pocket springs with comfort layers), except for the Nature, made of natural latex. We manufacture them in Yecla (Murcia).
How high the bed of an older person should be
It is the detail that is most often forgotten and the one that is most noticeable every day. Fundación MAPFRE recommends a bed height of between 45 and 50 cm, which can vary depending on each person's height (Fundación MAPFRE).
The practical test: that the person sits on the edge of the bed. Both feet must rest flat on the floor and the knees should be more or less at hip height. If their feet hang, the bed is high; if their knees are well above their hips, it is low and getting up will be harder.
| Combination | Approximate total height | |
|---|---|---|
| Kos Base (24 cm) + Original Hybrid or VisCool (26 cm) | 50 cm | Within range |
| Kos Base (24 cm) + Altus or Morfeo XL (30 cm) | 54 cm | Good for tall people |
| Naxos Base (29 cm) + 26 cm mattress | 55 cm | Somewhat high |
| Lift-top bed (34–36.5 cm) + 26 cm mattress | 60–62.5 cm | High for most |
Base or lift-top bed? The lift-top bed provides a lot of storage space, but leaves the bed higher and, to use it, you have to lift the lid with the mattress on top. The pistons help, but if the person has little strength or balance problems, a base with legs is more practical and also allows cleaning underneath.
Find their mattress in 2 answers
What do they need and how much do they weigh?
The most important thing for their rest
Approximate weight
Medium-high firmness and breathable linen fabric. Supports the back without loading the shoulders or hips. 30 cm: with the Kos Base, the bed is around 54 cm.
High firmness: the surface doesn't sink, so turning over and getting out of bed takes less effort. 26 cm: with the Kos Base, the bed is around 50 cm.
High firmness with thermoregulating fabric that absorbs excess heat. 26 cm: with the Kos Base, the bed is around 50 cm.
Reinforced high firmness so the mattress doesn't give with more weight. 30 cm: with the Kos Base, the bed is around 54 cm.
Would you rather compare yourself? See all Morfeo mattresses
24 cm high with wooden legs. With a 26 cm mattress, the bed is around 50 cm.
Pain, reduced mobility and heat: what changes in each case
If they have back pain
Prioritize stability: medium-high firmness and a mattress that doesn't form a "hammock". Posture also counts; we tell you about it in how to sleep with lower back pain.
If their shoulders or hips hurt
They usually sleep on their side and need some support on top so the shoulder doesn't dig in. Avoid very hard mattresses. More ideas in shoulder pain when sleeping.
If they have reduced mobility
Look for a surface that responds quickly (springs or latex), an edge that doesn't give when sitting, and the correct bed height. If they spend many hours in bed or need help getting up, consider an adjustable bed with their doctor or occupational therapist. If you already have one, write to us before choosing the mattress.
If they get hot or sweat at night
Avoid thick memory foam layers and plastic covers. Pocket springs and breathable fabrics help. We explain it in which mattress gets hotter.
When they need a different type of mattress
If the person spends most of the day in bed, cannot change their posture by themselves, or is at risk of pressure ulcers, they need a anti-bedsore mattress (a medical product) indicated by their medical or nursing team. Morfeo mattresses are for daily rest and do not replace that material.
This guide is for informational purposes and does not replace the assessment of a healthcare professional.
Frequently asked questions about mattresses for older people
What mattress firmness is best for an older person?
Medium-high as a starting point. Supports the back and doesn't sink, making it easier to turn over and get up. If the person weighs little and sleeps on their side, they may prefer something with more support; if they have trouble moving, something firmer.
How high should an older person's bed be?
Between 45 and 50 cm in total, according to Fundación MAPFRE, although it depends on height. The test: sitting on the edge, they must rest their feet flat on the floor with their knees at hip height.
Is a memory foam or spring mattress better for older people?
For most, a hybrid: pocket springs with a thin memory foam layer. Springs make movement easier and are cooler; the memory foam layer relieves pressure. Thick memory foam can make turning over difficult and get hot.
How often should the mattress be changed?
As a reference, every 8–10 years, or sooner if there are dips or the person gets up with more pain than when lying down.
What if the mattress doesn't convince them?
At Morfeo you have 100 nights to try it: from night 30 you can return it and we'll collect it free of charge on the mainland. All our mattresses have a 10-year warranty and shipping to the mainland is free.
Mattresses to rest better at any age
Made in Yecla (Murcia). 100 nights to try, 10-year warranty and free shipping to the mainland.
