Gift Ideas to Solve 3 Common Senior Foot Problems
Proper foot care is important for seniors because aging feet typically have decreased circulation and dry skin. This can cause larger issues like infection, unwillingness to walk, increased fall risk, and chronic pain. Today Dr. Mark Thompson and Dr. Brandon Holloway of Amarillo Foot Specialists located in the Amarillo, TX panhandle, are sharing some gift ideas to solve 3 common foot problems among seniors.
Taking proper care of common foot problems improves your senior loved ones’ mobility and safety while improving their quality of life and overall health.
We found foot care products that are great for seniors to relieve 3 common conditions:
Condition #1: Extremely dry feet and cracked heels. If feet get too dry and begin to crack, they are more likely to get infected and can be painful to walk on. To avoid infections and pain, it’s important to keep feet clean and moisturized, but not too greasy that could cause seniors to slip and fall. Choose a heel balm that hydrates and softens cracking heels and dry feet, has little or no scent, and is not too greasy.
Condition #2: Seniors can’t reach their feet to apply medicated creams or lotions. As we age and lose flexibility, it becomes more challenging to take care of hard-to-reach body parts such as the feet. To make it easier for your senior loved ones to care for their feet on their own, gift them a lotion applicator.
Condition #3: Athlete’s foot that won’t go away. Bacterial and fungal conditions flourish on aging feet because older adults find it difficult to keep their feet dry and clean. Besides, it’s much easier for bacteria to thrive in dry skin. If your senior loved one has persistent or severe redness, swelling, pain, or itching, see a podiatrist to determine the origin of the problem and rule out any serious infections. If the condition is a fungal problem, and the podiatrist thinks it’s a good idea to try over-the-counter products, gift them a tea tree oil that can treat athlete’s foot and a variety of bacterial and fungal skin issues on the feet.
Proper foot care is vitally important for seniors, particularly those who suffer from diabetes. If your senior loved ones are having these or any other foot problems, contact the office of Dr. Mark Thompson and Dr. Brandon Holloway of Amarillo Foot Specialists located in Amarillo, TX to schedule a consultation. Contact us today at (806) 322-3338.