If you are a caregiver for an aging adult, helping them take care of their feet can help keep them healthy, active and improve their quality of life. Healthy feet can also help older adults avoid falls and broken bones. Here are the top nine things you can do to promote better foot health in an elderly person. 1) Inspect their feet daily for any redness, breaks in the skin or anything unusual. 2) Help them eat healthy foods, drink plenty of water, and engage in low impact exercise and stretching. 3) Trim their toenails straight across. 4) Make sure footwear fits properly, and have their feet measured for length and width every time they buy new shoes. 5) Don’t allow them to walk barefoot, even around the house. 6) Keep their feet clean, dry, and moisturized. 7) Make sure their socks are not tight to avoid cutting off circulation. 8) Never trim corns or calluses with a sharp instrument. 9) Have their feet checked regularly by a podiatrist, especially if they are diabetic.
If you need your feet checked, contact Brian Shwer, DPM of Southaven Foot Clinic. Our doctor will attend to all of your foot and ankle needs and provide you with quality treatment.
Geriatrics and Podiatry
When people age, some common issues that may occur are bone density loss, dry skin, poor circulation, and rough brittle nails. These issues may also affect your foot health if the necessary steps are not taken to alleviate the problems.
It is important to take care of your feet because feet that are injured or diseased can affect your overall health. Having painful feet hinders your ability to do daily activities or may decrease your willingness to do the things that you need to do.
Visiting Your Geriatrician
As we age, health problems become more likely, so it is essential to visit your doctor for check-ups to ensure that you are doing the best you can to take care of your health. It is recommended to check your feet frequently for any possible cuts, bruises, swelling, corns or any other irregularities.
Taking Care of Elderly Feet
Cracked or dry feet can be treated by applying moisturizer often. It is also important not to wear old socks because the older the sock is, the higher the possibility there will be that there is bacteria there. Wear fresh socks and make sure they fit properly.
Proper foot health means that you can have a more active lifestyle and you will not be bogged down by pain. Foot health also leads to good circulation, which is paramount for overall health.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our office located in Southaven, MS . We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technology to treat your foot and ankle needs.
