One of the aspects of elderly health care that many family caregivers forget about is foot care. It is very important that you pay attention to your elderly loved one’s foot health. In many cases, the elderly aren’t able to or forget to take care of their own feet. Your elderly loved one might not be flexible enough to reach their feet. They may not be able to see their feet well. There are many tips on proper foot care that you and caregivers can help your elderly loved one with.
Examining the Feet Regularly
It is important that you or one of the caregivers examines your elderly loved one’s feet regularly. Your elderly loved one might not tell you when they think there is a problem with their feet. They might be experiencing pain in their feet, but don’t want to say anything. By doing regular examinations of your elderly loved one’s feet, you can ensure any feet issues are caught early. Dealing with these issues early on can help to prevent infections, catch other health issues, and prevent more pain for your elderly loved one.
Foot Hygiene is Essential
It is essential that your elderly loved one practices foot hygiene. However, they may not be able to do this on their own. It is important to keep in mind that even if your elderly loved one can take a bath by themselves, that doesn’t mean they are able to properly clean their feet. If they aren’t able to do this, you or one of the caregivers can help them. After the bath, be sure to dry your elderly loved one’s feet completely to prevent fungal issues later on.
Trimming the Toenails
If your elderly loved one has long toenails, it could cause difficulties when they are walking. Their toenails could be ingrown if they get too long, as well. To prevent these issues from happening, you or one of the caregivers might need to trim your elderly loved one’s toenails regularly. One of the things to keep in mind when doing this is that the toenails should be kept at about the tip of their toes. You should also make sure your elderly loved one has their own toenail clippers. Sharing items like these can spread fungal diseases.
Conclusion
These are some of the best tips on proper foot care for your elderly loved one. It is important to remember that your elderly loved one may not be able to take care of their feet. Even if they can take a bath by themselves, this doesn’t necessarily mean they are washing their feet. It can be difficult for many elderly people to bend over to properly clean their feet. However, now that you know this, you can use these tips to help your elderly loved one keep their feet healthy.
If you or an aging loved one needs a Caregiver in Sacramento, CA, remember Senior Home Care Services. Call us at (916) 514-7006 for more information.
Sources
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6339366/
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