With age, a number of physiological problems related to the health of the musculoskeletal system arise. That is why it is important to choose sleeping accessories with great attention, because the wrong pillow or mattress can aggravate chronic pain, reduce the quality of sleep and life in general.
When choosing a pillow for an elderly person, focus on the following parameters: materials, size, care, sleeping position.
Preferred Materials
The pillow should be both comfortable and elastic enough so that the body does not fall into it like a weightless feather bed. In other words, the accessory must have orthopedic qualities.
Orthopedics is the ability of the surface to support the body (in this case, the head and cervical region) in a physiologically natural position.
The usual down product is not able to maintain elasticity for a long time, as over time the fluff breaks and clumps. And before each use, it must be shaken.
For this purpose, products made of artificial materials based on high-tech foams are best suited – polyurethane foam (another name is artificial latex) and memorix. Organic fillers will cope even better with orthopedic support: natural latex from the sap of the Hevea tree and Spanish soy foams. These medium-density foams will delicately adjust to the neck curve, providing gentle yet tangible support for the head and neck.
Choosing A Size
When choosing a size, you should focus on the width of your shoulders. The wider they are, the more a pillow is needed.
For people with a standard body type, pillows 40 by 60 cm are suitable.
For people with a larger physique, it is better to choose models with a size of at least 50 by 70 cm.
Care And Durability
The easier it is for an elderly person to take care of the accessory, the better. Not every pensioner can afford to take a pillow to dry cleaning, and sleeping accessories must be washed at least twice a year. Therefore, ease of care is also an important selection criterion. It is desirable that the pillow can be washed in a regular machine. Unfortunately, only the pillows made of soy foam can be washed. All other materials from which orthopedic pillows are usually made: memory, artificial latex (polyurethane foam) and natural latex, can only be cleaned by dry cleaning.
Latex is made from the natural sap of the Hevea tree, which is why it is so elastic and durable
In terms of durability, materials based on natural raw materials – latex and soy foams – definitely win here. Their service life is up to 10 years. But in the case of latex, you need to be careful. The desire to dry the pillow in the sun can lead to a change in the orthopedic characteristics of the model – natural latex dries and cracks under ultraviolet rays. Artificial materials, although less durable, will still last a long time with proper care, about 5-7 years.
Note: If anyone wants pricing or more information about cervical pillows, please visit our website or search online to find the best deals.
Choosing A Pillow Depending On The Sleeping Position
As for the shape of the pillow, it depends on the preferred sleeping position.
Sleeping position on the side. In this case, it is better to choose an orthopedic pillow with an anatomical shape in the form of a wave. It is made in such a way as to better support the cervical spine. The optimal height in this case is from 9 to 12 cm.
For sleeping on your back, a pillow of both classic and modern shapes in the form of a “wave” is suitable. Only in this case, the smaller roller should be placed under the neck. Height: approximately 6 to 10 cm.
For sleeping on your stomach, a low pillow of a regular or anatomical shape is suitable so that the cervical spine is not too elevated, but maintains a natural position. Preferred height: 5 cm and below.
Why Is It Better To Choose Soft Pillows?
Hard pillows and mattresses cause increased pressure on blood vessels and joints. In old age, they are not in the best shape, so it is important that sleep accessories for people of retirement age are soft. The softer they are, the less back pressure they exert on the tissues of the body.
Best Pillows For The Elderly
We have compiled a rating of the five best inexpensive models. Regardless of the shape, materials used or height, they all have one thing in common – the presence of orthopedic qualities necessary for healthy proper sleep.
Soft orthopedic pillow in the shape of a wave with two bolsters of different shapes. Its shape takes into account different sleeping positions. When choosing to sleep on the side, you should put a roller of a larger diameter under the neck, in this case, the cervical spine will receive high-quality elastic support. When sleeping on your back, it is better to turn the pillow over with the smaller roller down to reduce the height of the pillow. Then the body will maintain an optimal position during sleep.
The pillow is made of modern high-tech material with a memory effect. It is so elastic that it almost instantly follows the contours of the body. Coupled with elasticity, this allows you to maintain an even position of the cervical spine relative to the spine, which will help get rid of neck pain.
Thanks to the memory material in the filler, the pillow is so soft that while sleeping on it, the effect of floating in zero gravity is created on it. Among other soft anatomical materials, it is the memory that boasts the least pronounced back pressure on the soft tissues and the vessels inside them. And this, as noted above, is a guarantee of healthy sleep in old age.
