| It is not uncommon for senior citizens to | | | | There are many over the counter treatments |
| experience foot problems. These problems can be | | | | available to cure these infections. You can prevent |
| the result of the normal wear and tear on feet | | | | infection by keeping your feet clean and dry, |
| that occurs over time. Or, they can be a sign of | | | | changing shoes and socks to keep feet dry, |
| a more serious illness like arthritis, diabetes, and | | | | buying well-fitting shoes that are not too tight, or |
| nerve or circulatory disorders. Because of this, it | | | | dusting feet with medicated foot powder |
| is important that senior citizens practice good foot | | | | Dry Skin. This can lead to itching and burning feet. |
| care. Health care providers or family members | | | | Using a mild soap, lotion, or adding oils to |
| responsible for senior citizen elder care should help | | | | bathwater can help with this. |
| with foot care. | | | | Corns and Calluses. This is caused by bones in |
| Be sure to check feet regularly. If you feel that | | | | feet rubbing against the shoe and results in rough |
| you have a serious problem, check with your | | | | skin. You can wear special shoes or put extra |
| doctor, who can then refer you to a podiatrist if | | | | padding in your shoes to prevent this. |
| necessary. You can also put your feet up when | | | | Warts. Viruses cause these skin growths. They |
| you sit to improve circulation, stretch and walk | | | | can generally be treated by over the counter |
| regularly, massage your feet, talk a warm foot | | | | medications. |
| bath and dry feet carefully afterwards, and | | | | Bunions. When the joints in your big toe no longer |
| always avoid shoes that don not fit properly. | | | | fit together, they can become swollen and tender. |
| The pressure on feet caused from shoes that do | | | | Treatment can include wrapping the foot, wearing |
| not fit correctly can cause unnecessary problems. | | | | special shoes that pad or protect the tender |
| Here are some tips for wearing correctly fitting | | | | areas from friction, surgery, or physical therapy. |
| shoes: | | | | Ingrown Toenails. If you do not cut your toenails |
| - Shoe size can sometimes change with age. You | | | | straight, the nail can break the skin if it grows |
| should measure your feet regularly and do it at | | | | back at an angle. This may causes bleeding and |
| the end of the day when your feet are largest. | | | | discomfort. Cutting nails regularly or removing the |
| - Most people have one foot that is larger than | | | | nail with surgery is used to treat this condition |
| the other. Be sure to fit shoes to the larger foot. | | | | hammertoe. When the tendons that control toe |
| - Always try shoes on before purchasing them. | | | | movements shorten, the toe knuckle grows and |
| - Walk in shoes before purchasing them to be | | | | pulls the toe back, causing the joint to stiffen |
| sure they feel right. | | | | over time and rub against the shoe. This can |
| - Choose a shoe that is shaped like a foot, avoid | | | | interfere with balance. To treat this, people can |
| heels or designer shoes that do not look or feel | | | | either wear socks and shoes that provide more |
| comfortable. | | | | room and comfort or get surgery if necessary. |
| - Be sure that the ball of your foot fits | | | | Spurs. Stress on the feet can cause calcium |
| comfortably into the widest part of the shoe. | | | | bumps to grow on the bones of feet. This can |
| - Do not buy shoes that are tight in hopes that | | | | become more uncomfortable if more stress is |
| they will stretch | | | | put on those areas by poorly fitting shoes or |
| - The heel of the shoe should not slide up and | | | | standing for long periods of time. To relieve |
| down your foot as you walk. | | | | symptoms, people can wear foot supports, foot |
| - The upper part of the shoe should be made of | | | | pads, or get surgery if needed. |
| soft bendable material to match the shape of | | | | Swelling. This can be a sign of more serious |
| your foot. | | | | problems. If you have consistently swollen feet, |
| - Soles should be solid fitting and not slip, thick | | | | you should see a doctor. |
| soles will cushion your feet when walking on hard | | | | If you have a disease that is known to affect |
| surfaces. | | | | your feet such as diabetes or peripheral artery |
| - Low heeled shoes are more comfortable, safer, | | | | disease, monitoring your feet is very important. |
| and easier on your feet. | | | | These diseases can cause poor blood flow to the |
| Common Problems | | | | feet and untreated bruises or scrapes can |
| Fungal Infections. This can include athlete's foot. | | | | become infected more easily. Whether you have |
| Fungal infections thrive where it is moist, dark, | | | | a disease like this or not, be sure that you doctor |
| and warm, like in a shoe. Fungal infections produce | | | | checks you feet regularly during appointments. |
| dry skin, redness, blisters, itching, and peeling. | | | | |