How To Help Have Amazing Happy Feet
Good health for your senior feet
The health of your feet is essential for our loved ones. Poorly maintained feet are more susceptible to infections of various kinds. Furthermore, ignoring any foot pain is also not advisable. It can indicate severe underlying health conditions. After a certain age, it becomes difficult for our loved ones to bend over and take care of their own feet. They would need someone to help them with their daily foot-cleaning regime. Poor foot health can trigger the onset of several foot disorders, which makes life miserable for our elderly loved ones. Therefore, it would be wise to take proper care of the foot and keep it healthy, clean, and free from dirt and infections. Moreover, foot problems can affect our walking and exercising.
Common foot disorders
Feet disorders seem to become a standard part of an elderly’s life. Blame the inability of our seniors to take good care of their own feet. When they are not cared for properly, we can encounter all sorts of problems.
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Poor blood circulation,
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Advancing age
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Diabetes
- Loss of collagen
- Arthritis
- Hammertoe
- Tendons tighten
- Skin dries out
It seems to become increasingly common during old age. With age, our elderly lose the cushioning, and the skin and their toenails become dry and brittle. Standard disorders include:
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Ingrown nails
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Diabetic ulcers
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Fungus
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Calluses
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Corns and bunions
Learning about the various disorders
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Bacterial and fungal infections
The cause of this is when our elderly wear shoes for longer durations. A warm, humid, and dark place is perfect for the fungus to grow and thrive.
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Ingrown toenails
It is a pretty common condition and happens when a part of the nail breaks into the skin. Unfortunately, this occurs when our seniors don’t cut their nails regularly.
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Corns and calluses
Corns and calluses develop when there is constant friction between the bony part of the foot and the shoes. Discuss this condition with the doctor for the right kind of treatment.
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Bunions
Bunions are bony bumps that develop at the joint of the big toe. It occurs when the big toe pushes the next toe, which in turn forces the reciprocal of the big toe to get bigger and out of shape. The affected area of the skin becomes red and swollen.
Advantages of a healthy foot
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Physically active
Staying physically active is the best way to remain healthy. For example, sore and unhealthy feet make walking difficult for your health. This will cause your loved ones to lead a sedentary lifestyle. On the other hand, when they are healthy it will enable the elderly to stay physically active.
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Maintain balance
When they are healthy, and free from infections and pain, also help in keeping balance. And ultimately prevent consequent falls and accidents. So, the next time your elderly are reluctant to allow you to keep them clean. Tell them about the advantages of good foot health.
Tips to take care of the elderly’s foot
Caring for them can be a daunting task for caregivers. However, this is a critical task, as foot health keeps infections and diseases at bay. Many seniors are often reluctant to allow others to touch them. This is important to keep them clean when they can’t do the job themselves. However dubious your senior may appear. It is necessary to keep them clean and healthy. Here are specific tips for caregivers to help them accomplish the task in a better manner:
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Always check for signs of infection.
Look for sores that are not healing for several days—redness in the affected area and pain and swelling. If you notice any of these signs, it is best to consult the doctor.
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Wash them daily with warm water and soap.
After they are back home after a long walk, let them soak for about 10 minutes in warm water. Use mild soap to clean the foot of your elderly gently. Do not use harsh brushes to remove dead skin. Regular cleaning will help remove dead skin cells. Pat them dry with a soft towel and moisturize themafter the cleaning process. Make sure you wipe off the excess water in between the toes. This is the place that harbors germs and gives way to fungal infections.
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Cut their toenails as often as possible.
Make sure you cut their nails straight, and remember not to curve at the edges. This way, we could prevent the development of ingrown nails. The nail clip should be cleaned and changed after a few uses.
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Pay proper attention to their shoes.
Poor-fitting shoes give way to the development of various foot disorders. And therefore, you need to get shoes that are comfortable to wear and fit correctly.
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Get your senior comfortable socks to wear
Tight-fitting socks give little room for breathing. And also promotes the deposition of sweat and dirt. Pay special attention to the material of the socks. Poor-quality socks would also make your seniors uncomfortable. Wash the socks with warm water and soap after each use.
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Seniors with diabetes need to pay extra attention to their feet
They are at an increased risk of developing foot ulcers and other disorders that do not heal fast.
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Prevent many foot disorders by elevating your loved one’s feet daily
By doing so, blood circulation improves to a great extent. This will improve their overall foot health. Therefore, encourage your loved one to keep their feet elevated whenever they sit.
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Keep them warm
The lack of warmth can slow circulation. As a result, you are causing more problems, like weakening your immune system. So wear comfortable fleece socks to keep them warm.
Make sure to keep your feet well moisturized.
Feet lose so much moisture, and it is necessary to keep feet supple. Apply some water daily with lotion, cream, or petroleum jelly. Do not put any water between your toes. You will want to keep the skin between your toes dry to prevent infection.
Conclusion
Healthy feet are happy feet, so keep their health up. By following the above tips and suggestions, your feet will thank you! Also, check out this past post on handwashing.
