Did you know that the human foot contains 52 bones? That’s a whopping number when you consider that the human body has 206 bones in its entirety. So, it’s no wonder that as we age, we can experience serious foot problems. As one of the leading Maryland elderly care providers, the team from A Homemade Plan often assists our clients with hygiene, and this includes foot care.
Here we wanted to discuss some crucial factors of senior foot care and how aging affects the feet.
Common Foot Problems Experienced By Seniors
The elderly can fall victim to a host of foot problems, some of the most common being:
- Bunions: When the big toe slants outward at an angle, it can develop bunions, which can be particularly tender and painful. Bunions can be treated with special shoes and inserts, although for more serious cases surgery may be necessary.
- Corns & Calluses: These thick layers of skin are caused by our feet rubbing against our shoes. Finding shoes that fit properly is one of the best ways to avoid corns and calluses.
- Hammertoes: This is when your body’s tendons are shortened and pull your toes into a sort of V-shape that will affect both balance and how you walk. It can be particularly painful and require surgery in more extreme cases.
- Diabetic Foot Problems: Many of our clients suffer from diabetes and it can also lead to foot problems. Diabetes can cause nerve damage in the feet and prevent seniors from realizing they have issues like the ones mentioned above. This can then lead to infections if left unattended, so diabetic foot care is extremely important.
Elderly Footcare Tips
Some of the ways to catch problems early on and keep senior feet in great shape are:
- Regularly applying lotion to the feet
- Inspecting feet regularly
- Trimming toenails properly
- Wearing shoes that fit well
- Always wearing socks that are clean and dry
- Exercising feet regularly
Contact us for more about elderly care in Maryland
Our caregivers can help with exercising and providing the proper senior foot care, and much more. For additional information about our senior care Maryland services, contact us online today or call (888) 610-2643.
