How to choose the best adjustable bed for elderly parents

Last Updated: September 24, 2026

For older parents, the bed is where many daily struggles start: getting in and out, sitting up to read or eat, breathing comfortably at night, and managing swelling in the legs. An adjustable bed can help with all of these, but “adjustable bed” covers everything from a lifestyle base under a regular mattress to a full home-care bed that raises and lowers. This guide explains the differences and helps you choose the right type for your parent’s health and home.

Know the Two Main Categories

Consumer adjustable bases

These fit inside or replace a standard bed frame and raise the head and foot sections. They look like normal furniture, come in standard mattress sizes, and are common in bedroom stores.

Home-care or hospital-style beds

These add height adjustment, often called hi-lo, so the whole bed can raise or lower. They are typically narrower, around 36 inches wide, and designed for caregiving, with options for rails and specialized mattresses.

How They Compare

Match the Bed to Your Parent’s Needs

Getting in and out

The right bed height lets your parent sit on the edge with feet flat on the floor and knees near 90 degrees. For many adults that means the top of the mattress sits roughly 18 to 24 inches from the floor. A hi-lo bed can be lowered for safe transfers and raised to a comfortable working height for caregivers.

Breathing and reflux

Raising the head of the bed can make breathing easier for people with some heart or lung conditions and can reduce nighttime reflux symptoms. Ask your parent’s doctor what angle is appropriate.

Swelling and circulation

Raising the legs slightly may help with swelling in some cases. Again, follow medical advice, especially if your parent has circulation problems.

Caregiving

If a caregiver helps with dressing, repositioning, or wound care, a bed that raises to waist height reduces back strain dramatically.

Safety Considerations

Bed rails and entrapment

Rails can help some people reposition, but gaps between rails, mattress, and frame can cause entrapment. The FDA has warned about these risks. If rails are used, choose ones designed for the specific bed, keep gaps minimal, and discuss alternatives such as a bed assist handle or a low bed with a floor mat.

Simple controls

Remotes with large, clearly labeled buttons are easier for older adults. Some beds offer preset positions. A backlit remote helps at night.

Power backup

A battery backup lets the bed be lowered flat if power goes out, which matters if your parent cannot get out of bed in a raised position.

Mattress Compatibility

Adjustable bases work best with flexible mattresses such as memory foam, latex, or many hybrids. Traditional innerspring mattresses may not bend well. For parents at risk of pressure injuries, ask about pressure-redistributing mattresses designed for home-care beds.

Space, Delivery, and Setup Checks

Before ordering, measure the bedroom and the route into it. Home-care beds arrive in sections and are assembled in the room, but a consumer split-king base can be heavy and bulky, sometimes well over 100 pounds per half. Check that stairs, tight corners, and doorways allow delivery, and ask whether white-glove setup and removal of the old bed are included. Leave at least 3 feet of clear space on the side your parent gets out of bed, and more if a walker, wheelchair, or caregiver will work there. Plan an outlet within reach of the bed so power cords do not cross walking paths, where they become a tripping hazard at night.

FAQ

Does Medicare cover adjustable beds?

Medicare Part B may cover a hospital bed when a clinician documents medical need, such as requiring positioning not possible in a regular bed. Consumer lifestyle bases are generally not covered.

Can two people share an adjustable bed?

Yes. Split king or split queen bases let each side adjust independently, useful when one partner has different needs.

Bottom Line

Choose a consumer adjustable base if your parent mainly needs better head and leg positioning and wants a normal-looking bedroom. Choose a hi-lo home-care bed if transfers, caregiving, or significant medical needs are involved. Measure bed height, plan rail safety carefully, and choose controls your parent can use easily.

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