Taking a proactive approach to caring for your feet as you age can make a significant difference when it comes to maintaining your mobility over time. At Advanced Foot and Ankle Centers, we are here to help seniors in the Clovis and Madera areas manage a wide range of foot injuries and other health concerns that become more common in older adults. We can also provide recommendations for specific shoes, socks, lotions, and other products that are most likely to be a good fit for the current condition of your feet.
How We Can Help: Foot Care for Seniors
Understanding how your feet change over time can help you identify potential problems early and reduce their impact on your life. A podiatrist can provide solutions for managing even seemingly minor concerns to help you maintain foot comfort and mobility as you age.
Common Foot Problems in Seniors
Seniors are more likely to develop several types of foot problems as they age, many of which can make getting around more challenging and less safe than it used to be. Fortunately, seeking professional foot care early can reduce the effects of many of these conditions. Some common foot issues that seniors tend to be more likely to experience include:
- Bunions
- Arthritis
- Complications linked to diabetes and other health problems
- Plantar fasciitis
- Fat pad atrophy
- Hammertoe
- Nail and other foot fungus
Comprehensive Foot Care Services
Preventative Foot Care
Wearing the right shoes and taking other proactive steps toward preserving the health of your feet can prevent many senior foot conditions from occurring in the first place. We can provide recommendations for lifestyle changes and early treatment options that help to keep feet healthy over time.
Diabetic Foot Care
Diabetes can have a significant impact on the health of your feet. Our team can provide recommendations for everyday foot washing, ideal shoes and socks, what to look for when watching for foot changes that may be linked to diabetes, and other key information.
Foot Pain Treatment
We offer a variety of solutions for foot pain from several common sources, such as:
- Medications
- Physical therapy
- Footwear recommendations
Specialized Footwear and Orthotics
Analyzing how you walk and the current condition of your feet gives us an abundance of information to use to make professional recommendations for specific types of shoes, insoles, custom orthotics, and socks that are most likely to work well for you. In many cases, switching to a specialized shoe that was designed to combat a specific foot problem and custom-made to perfectly fit the shape of your foot can significantly reduce foot pain, improve balance and mobility, and reduce other problems that seniors frequently experience.
FAQs
Here are some of the most common questions we get about steps seniors can take to improve the health of their feet.
Can Mobility Be Improved With Foot Care?
The health of your feet plays a key role in your ability to move around safely and comfortably, especially as you get older. Taking a proactive approach to seeing a podiatrist that specializes in seniors' unique needs can go a long way toward reducing the impact of age-related issues that are known to lead to falls or make getting around more difficult than it needs to be.
What Services Are Covered By Insurance?
The specific types of foot care services your insurance will cover can vary from policy to policy, but most medically necessary treatments are generally included. Some common examples of foot care services that Medicaid and most insurance companies consider medically necessary include:
- Broken bones, sprained ankles, open wounds, and other injuries
- Fungus, plantar warts, significant deformities caused by bunions, hammertoe, and other foot issues that impact your health or ability to walk normally
- Foot issues that are directly related to other medical conditions, such as diabetes or kidney disease
What Should I Bring to My Appointment?
You should bring detailed information about any other foot-related health services you have received in the past, as well as any allergies or other medical conditions you have. It can also be helpful to wear the shoes you wear most frequently so that we can analyze how they are impacting your walking.
What Shoes Can Seniors Wear?
Seniors should wear sturdy, high-stability shoes with non-slip soles to make walking easier and reduce the risk of tripping or slipping. Slip-on options tend to be easier for seniors to put on and take off than shoes with laces, but they should still fully cover the foot and provide plenty of support.
What Materials are Best for Socks?
Socks made from moisture-wicking fabrics play an important role in keeping feet dry and comfortable. Other helpful styles include compression socks that improve blood circulation, gripper soles that make walking on smooth surfaces easier, and extra-thick socks to keep feet warm during especially cold weather.
What Types of Soaps and Lotions Are Best for Senior Foot Care?
Seniors should use gentle products made from high-quality ingredients to reduce the risk of skin irritation, which tends to be more common in older adults.
What Is the Best Foot Soak for Seniors?
Older adults should use mild foot soaks because many harsher ingredients can irritate skin that tends to be more sensitive than it once was. Epsom salts, body wash, and other mild soaps work well for many seniors.
What Should Be Avoided to Maintain Foot Health Over Time?
Poor shoe choices can make walking more difficult and less safe than it should be. Seniors should avoid several types of shoes, including:
- High heels
- Shoes that are very narrow or otherwise fit poorly
- Any shoes with poor arch support
Other things that are important for seniors to avoid include:
- Soaking feet in water that is too hot
- Standing or sitting for too long
- Allowing feet to be moist for too long
- Some types of over-the-counter foot treatments (especially those that are made with ingredients that may worsen another health condition)
- Using heating pads on the feet
Choose Advanced Foot and Ankle Centers for Quality Foot Care at Any Age
At Advanced Foot and Ankle Centers, we are here to help seniors in the Clovis and Madera areas take steps to keep their feet feeling and functioning their best over time. From handling foot injuries and infections to providing recommendations for supportive shoes and other strategies that can help you maintain reasonable mobility for as long as possible, our team members have a high level of expertise in a wide range of foot concerns that most frequently impact the elderly. Contact us today to learn more about the benefits of seeing a podiatrist as a senior or to request an appointment!
