Keeping Feet Healthy All Year Long

You might be helping your elderly loved one pack away her sandals and flip flops from the summer, but don’t let that lead you to think her feet don’t still need to be regularly cared for. Just because those toes and heels may not be exposed to the
public eye, taking care of them as cold weather approaches is still just as important as ever.
Why Your Elderly Loved One May Need Some Help
Your elderly loved one may need some personal care at home assistance when it comes to caring for her feet. Many elderly people find it difficult to give their feet the attention and care they need. These reasons can include any or several of the
following:

• An inability to reach their feet. From lacking the flexibility to reach their feet to having a body size that makes reaching their feet difficult, some people simply cannot bend over safely to spend time caring for their feet.
• Reduced vision. Your loved one may not have the strongest vision to safely trim her own nails or notice if there is a small injury on her foot that needs attention.
• Forgetfulness. Since feet are often “out of sight”, that means they can also easily become “out of mind.” Your loved one may need reminding by a personal care at home attendant that her feet are due for routine care.
  Five Areas of Feet That Need Regular Care to Stay Healthy
  Like all areas of the body, the feet need regular care to stay in good shape and be able to support your loved one in the ways she needs. In some ways, the feet are one of the most important body parts to keep routinely cared for because of all the support they provide the rest of the body. If your loved one’s feet become injured, infected, or painful, it can affect many areas of her life, especially the ability to move around as she’d like.
  With that in mind, talk to your loved one about staying current with these five foot care processes.

1. Cleaning and washing. The feet have almost a quarter million sweat glands, making them one of the sweatiest areas of the body. That means they need regular washing and cleaning to ensure dirt and germs don’t build up and lead to infections.
2. Inspecting for sores or cuts. Cracked heels, ingrown toenails, and blisters can all get infected if not properly cared for and monitored. If your loved one has another health condition, such as diabetes, where she may lose some feeling in her feet, an inspection may be the only way an injury is caught.
3. Moisturizing. Feet are prone to dry skin, and that skin can crack and cause pain. Her feet should regularly be moisturized.
4. Nail trimming. Keeping nails in good shape and trimming them properly is
   important to prevent breakage and painful ingrown toenails.
5. Massaging. Massaging feet not only provides pain relief, it also promotes blood flow, which helps reduce swelling.
   Staying on Top of Foot Care
   Having a personal care at home provider regularly visit and provide the personal care your loved one needs is a great way to make sure her feet stay healthy all year round, so when next summer returns, she can put on her favorite pair of
   sandals again. If you or an aging loved one are considering personal care at home in Lakewood, CO please contact the caring staff at FirstLight Home Care of Central Denver today at (303) 953-9575. FirstLight Home Care of Central Denver provides exceptional home care for seniors in Denver, Littleton, Westminster, Wheat Ridge, Arvada, Lakewood,
   Golden, Centennial, Greenwood Village, Aurora and surrounding areas.