Sofa Bed for an old person?

pulliptears

Since my Dad passed away 3 years ago my Mum occasionally sleeps downstairs on the sofa. She can't explain why other than she feels safer downstairs sometimes. This isn't a regular occurrence, probably 2 or 3 times a month but it did lead to a conversation earlier about how uncomfortable her sofa is to sleep on.

I mentioned perhaps she'd like a sofa bed, and we did think that certainly over winter it would be ideal for her as she wouldn't need to heat the upstairs and she'd feel more comfortable. Mum thinks its a great idea.

The only issue is how difficult it might be to open the mechanism and I wondered if anyone had any recommendations at all? She's 75, quite fit and strong at present but obviously isn't aways going to be so well.

Any suggestions?

Gigglepig

I have seen daybeds at IKEA where the bed is in a drawer rather than a fold out mechanism. It is convenient with a drawer compared to having to fold the bed out and back?

In the US they have beds that are in a wardrobe during night and then fold down using a hydraulic mechanism so it isn't heavy, but I'm not sure if you can get those here (and you cannot use those as sofas during daytime...)

minimoneysaver

I've got one, but I really struggle to pull out the bed on my own. Mine was from DFS.

Sambucus_Nigra

I was going to suggest a daybed. We bought this one, put it up in an afternoon [needs 2 people to construct] and the family slept on it over the weekend with no complaints [just lots of zzzzzs].

http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/50080315

polythenegirl

Why not go along to a couple of places and ask them if you Mum can try them? That why you'll know for sure

seafarers_wife

ive got that ikea day bed in black for my spare room, and its comfortable to sleep on and sit on. you can use it as a single bed or pull out the drawer to make it into a bed thats just about the same size as a kingsize. Ive got back issues and as long as the drawers arnt overloaded i can pull it out to make the double bed easily enough. the drawers are decent sized as well, so can easily store your mums duvet and pillows during the day, and the bed is easy to change as its 2 single mattresses and for me a single sheet is easier to change than a kingsized!

magic57

How about a click clack sofa bed.
The back folds down and I've heard they are more comfortable to sleep on that most sofa beds and very easy to put up and down.
Just out of interest is she sleeping in a double bed upstairs? Now that your dad has passed away maybe she feels the loss more alone in the bed. Would she prefer about a single bed?

pulliptears

Sambucus_Nigra wrote: »

I was going to suggest a daybed. We bought this one, put it up in an afternoon [needs 2 people to construct] and the family slept on it over the weekend with no complaints [just lots of zzzzzs].

http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/50080315

Not sure she'd go with one of those as she's ideally looking for something to match the rise and recline chair she's got in terracotta, perhaps even a wider sofa would do the job though? The one she has now is more of a cottage type sofa so very small.

Perhaps a trip to DFS to have a look is in order

pulliptears

magic57 wrote: »

How about a click clack sofa bed.
The back folds down and I've heard they are more comfortable to sleep on that most sofa beds and very easy to put up and down.
Just out of interest is she sleeping in a double bed upstairs? Now that your dad has passed away maybe she feels the loss more alone in the bed. Would she prefer about a single bed?

Ooh not heard of a click clack **off to google!**

I have asked her this and she's happy with the double (she had a new one not long after Dad died), especially as her little dog sleeps on there with her. I think its because she's warmer, can watch TV and can let the dog out easier in the night.

ceridwen

I'll hazard a guess FWIW that maybe another reason your mum doesnt want to sleep in her own bed sometimes is that those are the times she finds it hardest to sleep "in familiar surroundings" on her own and therefore wants to sleep somewhere that she never has slept with your dad - ie on a sofa in the sitting room.

She may not even have thought of it that way herself - but it could be that thats what the "problem" is. Do you have another bedroom in the house that you could move her bed into? (ie one that wouldnt carry the same memories as her "own" bedroom)..

pulliptears

ceridwen wrote: »

I'll hazard a guess FWIW that maybe another reason your mum doesnt want to sleep in her own bed sometimes is that those are the times she finds it hardest to sleep "in familiar surroundings" on her own and therefore wants to sleep somewhere that she never has slept with your dad - ie on a sofa in the sitting room.

She may not even have thought of it that way herself - but it could be that thats what the "problem" is. Do you have another bedroom in the house that you could move her bed into? (ie one that wouldnt carry the same memories as her "own" bedroom)..

To be honest my Dad had been ill for 5 years before he died, and in that time Mum had moved into the spare bedroom to give him more space so she has 2 rooms to sleep in but still prefers the lounge!

As I say this isn't a regular thing, sometimes she just feels happier for whatever reason but I do think its a great idea over winter and will save her fuel bills.