Foot pain can be incredibly distracting and it can greatly impact your senior’s quality of life. If your elderly family member is suddenly dealing with foot pain, there are some things that you both need to keep in mind. Narrowing down the causes and finding solutions is really important for her overall well-being. Here are some more things you and your senior should keep in mind around foot pain, and how personal care at home can help.
Talk to Her Doctor about Possible Causes
If the foot pain your elderly family member is experiencing is a new situation, you should talk to her doctor about possible causes. That conversation can help to rule out issues that need to be corrected for your senior. There could be a range of different health issues at play ranging from diabetes to heart disease. From there, you can address any other factors that could be contributing to the pain she’s having.
Consider Diet and Exercise Changes
Believe it or not, sometimes exercise and diet are related to foot pain. This is especially the case when it comes to causes such as arthritis or high blood pressure. Some of these health conditions cause foot pain due to inflammation and swelling in the extremities. Making changes to your elderly family member’s exercise routine and to her diet can help to relieve some of the factors related to her foot pain.
Make Sure Her Shoes Fit Properly
It’s also important that you don’t overlook how well your senior’s shoes fit. Lots of people believe that feet stay the same size and shape throughout a person’s life, but that’s not the case. Your elderly family member’s feet may not fit as comfortably in her shoes as they used to. Get her feet measured, and make sure that the shoes she’s wearing fit her feet correctly. If nothing else, try a few different sizes and widths to see what’s most comfortable on your elderly family member’s feet.
Keep Tabs on Foot Health
Lots of other health conditions affect foot health. Sometimes foot pain is caused by health issues such as peripheral neuropathy or even sores on your elderly family member’s feet that she doesn’t realize are there. Personal care at home can help your elderly family member to stay on top of foot health, ensuring that any possible concerns are addressed as quickly as possible.
Ensure that Feet Are Clean and Dry
If your elderly family member’s feet are often damp, that can cause foot pain as well. Home care providers can help your elderly family member to keep her feet clean and ensure that they’re fully dry before putting on shoes and socks, as well. Personal care at home keeps your senior’s feet comfortable and from developing issues such as athlete’s foot and fungal infections.
Foot health is a great indicator of overall health and if your elderly family member is experiencing more foot pain than usual, she definitely needs to pay attention to what that might be telling her. Determining what is causing the pain can help her to resolve other issues, too.
If you or an aging loved one is considering personal care at home in Billings, MT, call the caring staff at SYNERGY Home Care of Billings today. 406-839-2390
