Summer comes and there’s no hiding those feet in shoes anymore. Cute summer sandals that let your loved one’s feet breathe in the hot summer mean that she’ll want her feet looking their best. Good-looking feet aren’t just a vanity point either; they are essential for your elderly loved one’s health as well.
Aging changes just about every part of a person’s body, and the feet are no different. From toenails that look much different than they did when your loved one was younger to cracked skin, seniors’ feet need extra TLC in the summer and all year round. Before you break out that bottle of fuchsia nail polish to paint your loved one’s toenails, take a few steps to get her feet looking good and feeling great.
Personal Care at Home Providers Can Help Protect Your Loved One’s Feet
Take care of the skin.
Like all of your loved one’s skin, it dries out and loses elasticity as she ages. This can create cracked skin on the sole of the foot as well as the heels. If your loved one has limited mobility, she may find it difficult, if not impossible, to put lotion on her feet to treat her dry skin. A personal care at home provider can help by applying lotion daily and rubbing it into the skin. You might consider getting lotion specifically created for cracked heels if that is an issue and the skin needs a deep moisturizer.
Your loved one’s feet should be examined regularly for any injuries as well. Those cracks can easily let in infections and develop into painful touch spots, making walking uncomfortable. If your loved one has diabetes, it’s especially important for daily foot checks to address any injuries before they develop into a bigger problem.
Finally, encourage your loved one to let her feet breathe every day for several hours. While she might like keeping shoes on at all times to help with stability, if your loved one knows she’ll be sitting for a bit, encourage her to take off her socks and shoes and let her feet breathe. Feet that are constantly covered have an increased risk of developing a fungal infection.
Take care of the nails.
Having nice-looking toenails isn’t only pleasing to the eye, but it’s also important to nail health. Since toenails also naturally change with age by becoming thicker, more yellow, and sometimes more fragile, having nice-looking nails can be difficult without constant care. A personal care at home provider can help with nail care, making sure your loved one’s nails not only look nice but are staying healthy.
It may be near impossible for your loved one to reach down and trim or clean her nails anymore. A personal care at home provider can help keep those nails trimmed to a healthy length and can also make sure they are regularly cleaned and cared for. The personal care at home provider can also look closely for any areas of concern, such as nail beds that are fractured or a possible nail fungus developing.
Once those feet are in their best shape, then your loved one’s personal care at home provider can help with an occasional pedicure, getting those nails ready to show off to the world and celebrate summer in style.
Providing exceptional Personal Care at Home in Arlington, VA, for seniors and families in the Northern Virginia area, including Arlington, Alexandria, McLean, Reston, Burke, Ashburn, Centreville, Springfield, Manassas, and Oakton. Call today to speak with our caring staff: (703) 272-8838.
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