Happy Feet: Essential Care Tips for Senior Foot Health
Our bodies all need tender loving care from time to time. From our heads right down to our toes, total body care is essential to overall health and well-being. Surprisingly though, it’s often easy for older adults to overlook one of the most frequently used, and heavily tread on, body parts– feet. With a variety of foot changes that can come with aging, it’s important to know what your feet might face and how to take better care of them.
Potential Foot Problems Facing Seniors
Just like the rest of your body, your feet change with age. These changes, coupled with reduced mobility and flexibility, can make foot care much more difficult as you get older. Because of this, it’s common to overlook the importance of proper foot care, but doing so can lead to further issues, as well as pain. Some of the common foot conditions that can affect your feet as you age include:
- Fat pad atrophy
- Morton’s Neuroma
- Cracked heels
- Plantar fasciitis
- Ingrown toenails
- Osteoarthritis
- Foot ulcers
Although not all foot conditions are preventable, taking better care of your feet can help reduce additional issues and minimize discomfort.
Tips to Take Better Care of Your Feet
Keep your feet happy and healthier with smart choices and self care like the tips below.
Regularly Inspect Your Feet for Issues
Get to know your feet well, if you don’t already. Try to incorporate a foot inspection into a weekly routine so that any new changes can be spotted right away. Whether it’s after a shower or before getting dressed for the day, closely examine your feet for any blisters, sores, redness, swelling, skin issues, or changes to the nail. Use a mirror if you need to or enlist the help of a family member, friend, caregiver, or podiatrist.
Wear the Right Shoes
Proper footwear goes a long way. To help prevent problems from occurring in the hips, knees, back, and other areas of the body, wear comfortable, supportive, properly fitting shoes. If you need extra support and can’t seem to find the right shoe for you, talk with a podiatrist about the best type of shoe insoles for your unique needs.
Practice Self-Care
Foot care involves far more than wearing the right shoes. Treat your feet to a spa day, everyday, by regularly moisturizing them and trimming your nails. Keep dry, flaky skin at bay by moisturizing your feet right after you step out of the shower.
Keep toenails neat and tidy with regular trims. This reduces the risk of ingrown toenails and infections. A great way to do this is to visit local nail salons for pedicures and other foot care routines. This makes it easier to keep feet in good health without the strain of bending and reaching to care for them at home.
Promote Healthy Circulation
Sufficient blood flow is crucial for good foot health. Avoid sitting for long periods of time with your legs crossed and find ways to incorporate more physical activity into daily life. This gets the heart pumping and promotes circulation.
Walking, cycling, yoga, dancing, and leg curls are great exercises for seniors to improve circulation.
Be Extra Mindful of Your Feet if You Have Diabetes
Diabetes-related nerve damage can prevent you from noticing an injury on your feet. Because of this, even a small cut can lead to a serious infection or injury. If you have diabetes, keep a close eye on your feet and follow your physician’s instructions on how to handle potential injuries.
Put Your Feet Up With Visiting Angels Of Scranton
Our in-home caregivers at Visiting Angels of Scranton can help you clean and moisturize your feet and drive you to podiatrist appointments, or for other local errands. Dignified personal care is one of the many non-medical care services we offer the local communities surrounding Scranton, PA. If you could use additional assistance at home, or you have a loved one in need of care, contact us today at (570) 800-5270 to learn more.