High beds a problem for seniors
and their pets?
The quest for the perfect
mattress and a cure for insomnia (or so they say) has led to a trend for
thicker and thicker mattresses. In the
old days, the standard mattress and box springs were about 8 inches each. Today you can find mattress as thick as 20
inches. The new mattresses feel divine
but I must admit that they make me a little nervous. What if I fall out of bed? Granted, they are easier to get in and out of
(at least for human kind) and no studies have actually proved that there is an
increase to human injury, but time will tell.
Kevin Helliker wrote an
article for The Wall Street Journal (Friday, December 12, 2008) called “The Rise
of Beds, And Falls of Dogs.” In this
article he discusses the problems that face our aging pets as they try to scale
these new heights. You might as well
admit it, 40% of dogs sleep with their masters and the chances of injury as
they attempt flying leaps is way up there.
Pet stairs are one of the
fastest growing products for those of you who have given up on idea of actually
keeping the dog off of the bed. Designer
stair cases as well as portable offerings can be found that are suitable for
both pets and their humans as well. Hardwood bed stairs can be advantageous to
humans as well as they provide a way to give you a step up into your bed and
can provide extra storage areas as well. The only other alternative is to lower
your bed by purchasing a lower profile box spring to offset the thicker
mattresses.
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