Beds for Parkinson's

[Smittybear7]

Any suggestions for bedding for Parkinson's. My husband and I are looking to buy a new mattress and looking for recommendations. I appreciate anybody suggestions. Thanks in advance. has anyone tried the Sleep Number bed?

[Juliegrace]

I cannot sleep on anything with a pillow top or memory foam. Even if they are “firm” I am unable to move. I recommend an innerspring/coil mattress. Good ones allow one person to move without disturbing the other person.

[Smittybear7 in reply to Juliegrace]

Thanks

[st8farm in reply to Juliegrace]

If you can afford it the Personal Comfort bed (split head , California King) is marvelous as we age. Both sides are independent controls with head and feet controls and vibrators for both sides. I didn't like the price, but I won't give up the comfort.

[Juliegrace in reply to st8farm]

I’ve been looking at adjustable bed frame, but not the number type bed, for a while. I will get one eventually.

[rescuema]

Since you’re asking about Sleep Number bed, I’ve recently replaced my older dual sided inflatable bed with an Air-pedic bed that I’m very happy with. I also have another Select Comfort bed in my guest bedroom that I like and guests rave about (lasting over 24 years) but the rebranded Sleep Number beds are nowhere near the original brand quality and it seems many people complain of deflation problem. The Air-pedic 500 is the one with the least amount of foam topper and you can adjust it as firm/soft as you prefer. It’s not cheap but I’m expecting to get additional few decades out of it. The air bladder is made out of durable urethane instead of rubber to resist mold along with separate lumbar zone to prevent the hammock effect. Look into it.

[Smittybear7 in reply to rescuema]

Thanks for the information. Are those mattresses available in store or do you have to buy them online?

[rescuema in reply to Smittybear7]

I was looking into the sleep number beds (with local availability) but my research eventually led me to Air-pedic after some digging and seeing horrible reviews on SN and you can't opt-out of the built-in electronic sleep monitoring technology. Air-pedic is more pricey and only available through a vendor located in CA, but their reviews are solid and they offer 30-years warranty (3 years non prorated) and 120 days money-back guarantee trial. You do lose the shipping fee (both in and outbound) if you end up returning the mattress they forget to tell you upfront so I'm glad I didn't need to send it back and happy with the mattress. They ship the mattress fully assembled. I had to wait over two months from the time I ordered to receive the mattress due to their supply chain issue.

[Smittybear7 in reply to rescuema]

Thank you I'll look into that. I've also been reading about the avocado green mattress and something called the nectar mattress are you familiar with either of those? I hesitate ordering something I haven't had a chance to try out thanks again for your help

[rescuema in reply to Smittybear7]

I'd stay away from all-foam mattresses although they're much cheaper. They will not last and may cave on you with possible mold issues from what I've read.

Here are some reviews I found.

amazon.com/Avocado-Green-Ma...?

amazon.com/Nectar-Queen-Mat...

[Smittybear7 in reply to rescuema]

Thanks again for your help

[laglag]

I'm trying to find a new mattress also. My lower back has been bothering me. I have a pillow top also and I do not care for it. I'm thinking I need to get a firm mattress.

[Smittybear7 in reply to laglag]

I think a firm mattress is best. Let me know if you find a good one. Good luck

[katelands]

Hello~ I did a lot of research on this subject when buying a new bed for my father. He had memory foam previously and it was very hard to get up from/out of. A number of articles suggested a natural latex mattress and that’s what we ended up with. It’s firm but extremely comfortable, and also non-toxic, unlike foam or coil mattresses with synthetic materials and chemicals. He found it much easier to move around in bed after the switch. I now use latex for myself and our kids and we all love it. Pillows too. It’s more expensive than other materials but it’s worth it to be both comfortable and safe - you do spend 1/3 of your life in bed! Hope that helps.

[Smittybear7 in reply to katelands]

Which brand did you buy

[Smittybear7 in reply to katelands]

I called about the green mattress and the avocado mattress. Did you get one of those?Currently have an original mattress factory firm mattress.

[Despe in reply to katelands]

About 5 years ago, we bought a Tempur-Pedic mattress. It is very firm and my husband complains that he can't get out of bed easily. I might give it a thought of replacing it with your recommendation and experience with a natural latex mattress. What is the brand name you purchased for your father? Thank you.

[Smittybear7 in reply to Despe]

Also Interested in the information. Of all the mattresses I tried the firm ones were easier to get out of. My other concern is the contents of the mattresses. Which are the safest for your health? I was surprised by how many sales people couldn't answer.

[Despe in reply to Smittybear7]

It's a question I should have asked before I bought it. I can search though.

[rescuema in reply to Despe]

Tina, look into Air-Pedic 500. At the max 100psi, it's TOO firm, and it has dual zones for his/her separate adjustments for differing needs. I have it set at 75psi and it's still on the firm side.

[Despe in reply to rescuema]

Thank you for your always trusted advice!

Throwing thousands of dollars away isn't easy Rescuema. However, before I do that I will search Tempur-Pedic materials they use. Do you know anything about the materials used for Tempur-Pedic mattresses?

[rescuema in reply to Despe]

I use Tempur-Pedic in a guestroom and I find it comfortable enough but I don't find it as comfortable as a good inflatable bed, and I like having an option to modify the firmness as needed. Tempur-Pedic is CertiPUR-US certified - Low VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) emissions for indoor air quality (less than 0.5 parts per million).

certipur.us/list-of-partici...

certipur.us/

[Despe in reply to rescuema]

It sure makes me feel better since it is CertiPUR-US certified, but that will not stop my husband from complaining. I will talk to him about it. If we decide to buy Air-Pedic 500, what shall I do with our Tempur-Pedic mattress? Throw it in the trash?

😞

[rescuema in reply to Despe]

That's a tough question because Tempur-pedic is a good and costly mattress. Move it to a guestroom? Call relatives who may want it? I don't know... 🤷‍♂️

Because we spend so much time in our beds and good sleep is soooo important for our health, I think of it as a necessary sunk cost. I also don't spare money on food for the same reason.

Before buying one blind, drive out to a local Sleep Number store and try a classic base model with the least amount of foam, such as C2, C4, or P5 - if your husband hates it with a firm setting, then don't bother with another air mattress. You can always add a cooling foam on top of any mattress as needed and have an option to replace it to renew, so it's pretty much a scam to spend $$$$$ for the top-of-the-line models or costly foam upgrade options.

sleepnumber.com/stores

For example, I got this cooling foam from Wayfair and got it delivered way earlier than Air-Pedic, so I tried it on top of my old mattress while waiting, and it immediately improved my sleep score on FitBit. Easy upgrade if needed.

wayfair.com/bed-bath/pdp/wa...

[Despe in reply to rescuema]

tempurpedic.com/other-produ...

Cheaper than Wayfair's price.

[rescuema in reply to Despe]

I'm seeing $359.20 for king and it's not cooling (helps sleep) as in the $69.99 topper option, but you get the idea.

[Despe in reply to rescuema]

I believe it was cooling. Will search again.

[rescuema in reply to Despe]

The big problem with the original Tempurpedic was heat retention that made people sweat so they definitely improved the heat retention more recently, but not enough to be called "cooling" toppers - they actually feel cool to touch.

[Despe in reply to rescuema]

Oh, I see. I will look for the one you recommended.

You are a huge ASSET to this forum, Rescuema. I owe all my PD knowledge to Art, you, and Silverstrov plus other newer members.

[rescuema in reply to Despe]

Thanks Tina. That was literally just one of the inexpensive cooling topper options that happened to be on a sale that I took a chance on, so get the one you're comfortable with. Some people will spend near 10K for thicker mattresses so I was simply offering an idea for flexibility, and thick built-in internal foams may promote mold which you can't easily replace. I use the topper upside down than shown with the egg crate side on top. 😉

[Despe in reply to rescuema]

tempurpedic.com/other-produ...

[rescuema in reply to Despe]

Yes, that's a better "cooling" option with the cover. The site won't let me add it to the cart to see the price but looks like it costs around $450 for king size elsewhere. I personally prefer a thinner cooling foam option but it'd work for people getting swayed by costly builtin topper upgrades.

[katelands in reply to Smittybear7]

We've bought all our latex mattresses from SleepEZ. They've been great. Natural latex is one of the healthiest options out there. Avoid foam - that includes memory foam. Traditional mattresses could be ok if organic, but we bought latex for my father bc it was specifically recommended for PD.

[rescuema in reply to Smittybear7]

That's another reason I opted for 100% CertiPur-US certified for low V.O.C.’s. Sleep Number bed foams are treated with antimicrobial chemicals to deal with molds that grow and multiply through the fissures and cracks from the rubber chambers over time, so it almost seemed negative to hear that Air-pedic/Selectabed doesn't add antimicrobial chemicals (also heavily restricted in CA) because I actually saw the mold growing on the surface of rubber bladder in the decades-old mattress. The urethane bladder resists mold and it's also important to allow any foam/mattress to breathe by not covering/enveloping the mattress in waterproof protectors to trap moisture to encourage mold growth.

Also, don't fall into the hypes of "all organic" chemical-free materials.

"Here’s the bottom line: Neither the latex nor the flexible polyurethane foam manufacturing process is “chemical-free.” That’s the simple truth."

certipur.us/the-truth-about...

[Smittybear7 in reply to rescuema]

The other problem I have is the height of the bed.I need a bed no high than 24inches from the floor.

[rescuema in reply to Smittybear7]

Get a low-profile platform bed that eliminates the need for a foundation or box spring - it's nothing more than a flat hard surface for a mattress to sit on unless it's adjustable.

An example

wayfair.com/furniture/pdp/m...

More

wayfair.com/furniture/sb2/l...

[Smittybear7 in reply to katelands]

Thanks for the information.

[Husbandsupporter]

My husband has PD, and I recently went bed shopping. The Temperpedic mattresses are amazing, but for us, my husband couldn’t turn over or move easily, as the mattress melds around the body. We finally decided on an Ashley store brand, like a Serta, and it works fine: It says soft-medium, But is nice and firm.

I wrestled with getting the frame that can raise head and or feet, but for now with my husband being able to get up easily, it wasn’t necessary. We can add it later if we need or want to. It’s a shopping experience for sure. Good luck. Look for sales from companies—-that helps.

[Smittybear7 in reply to Husbandsupporter]

For now I'm able to get out of bed what's the mattress we have. It's about 15 years old so we're in the process of looking for a new one. Not sure how else to make how quickly the Parkinson's deteriorates thanks for your information

[Smittybear7 in reply to Smittybear7]

I did find the adjustable beds harder to get out of. But that was just my experience.

[justhavefun2]

My husband and I bought a SleepNumber C4 bed about a year ago. It took us a good four months to get used to it, but we love it now! My sleep # is 80 which is very firm, but it automatically adjusts when I roll over on my back, etc. My spouse, who does not have PD, has his set at about 60. We purchased a lower end model because there was too much give to the upper end mattresses with all the latex, etc. I need a firm bed to be able to get in and out of bed and roll over. I also have back issues and I don't hurt nearly as bad when I get out of bed, but every day is different. Some days a little pain, some days no pain at all! Happy bed shopping!!

[Smittybear7 in reply to justhavefun2]

Thanks for info. We tried the sleep number adjustable bed and it seems a little too difficult to get out of. I think I need a firmer mattress. It also was going to cost about $6,000.

[rescuema in reply to Smittybear7]

You obviously tried their upper-end model at SN for 6K. You should try the C2 or C4 with only 2-3" top layer, and they shouldn't cost more than 2K.

[Smittybear7 in reply to rescuema]

Thank you I'll check it out

[justhavefun2 in reply to rescuema]

Exactly! I think the C4 is currently on sale for $1500. I couldn’t get in and out of a brand models either which was a bonus because I didn’t have to spend so much money! Lol

[Yardmom7]

I have had a Sleep Number bed for several years. I love that I can always adjust it to my changing needs. When it's time to replace it, I'll get a Sleep Number with a head and foot control.

[Smittybear7 in reply to Yardmom7]

I'll look into it. Thank you!

[Monette21]

As for bedding, my partner has been using the sheets and sleepware from a Canadian company called Comfort Linen, and they help. Not inexpensive but worth it. I receive periodic links to share with friends for discounts, which you will find below.

comfortlinen.com/

giftz.cc/GeVxB?utm_source=E...

[Niggs in reply to Monette21]

camping canvas clamp thingy?

2

[Niggs]

screw thread eyelet (hook n eye), karabiners

1