Aging can take its toll on your feet over time and can often get overlooked.
If you experience problems with your feet, it may also affect your mobility and ability to get out as much. Older adults can be prone to conditions such as bunions, heel pain, and arthritis in the feet. To reduce the risk of foot problems, and to keep your feet as healthy as possible follow these 5 tips:
Wearing well-fitting footwear (shoes & slippers) is key to maintaining good foot care. Wearing shoes that are too big or too small can cause blisters and other foot ailments.
This is an important part of foot health as by keeping toenails trimmed you can avoid infections. When cutting nails try soaking in warm water first as this can help soften the nail and cut straight across, but do not cut too short. If you struggle to do this, consider asking a friend or family member to help or book a regular pedicure.
It can be painful to walk when you have corns & calluses. They are caused by a build-up of dry skin, so it is important to stay on top of the removal of this by soaking the feet regularly and removing any dry skin with foot file or pummice stone
Older adults with limited mobility may suffer from circulation problems and possibly blood clots. Try to elevate the legs when resting and talk to a doctor about compression tights/stockings. There are also foot exercises that you can try such as these on this site that can help strengthen feet and decrease the risk of falls.
Dry skin on the feet is common and can lead to cracking and pain. Avoid it by using a cream or powder after showering, this helps lock in the moisture. Adding a pair of breathable socks after putting the cream on can help keep moisture in.