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The Right Footwear can Help Seniors Avoid Falls

Elderly Care Fremont OH - The Right Footwear can Help Seniors Avoid Falls

The Right Footwear can Help Seniors Avoid Falls

Falls are a major concern for seniors. 1 in 3 older adults fall every year, a leading reason for seniors to visit the emergency room. Falls often lead to lengthy hospitalizations, disrupted lives and disabilities. Some seniors find that living at home is too much after a fall. When it comes to falls, prevention is essential.

Unsafe Footwear Contributes to the Risk of Falls

Unsafe footwear greatly contributes to the risk of falling. Inappropriate footwear, such as high heels or shoes that are too tight, can make the foot or ankle unstable. It can also cause or worsen corns, bunions or other painful conditions, which have been shown to increase a senior’s risk of falling as well.

Aging Feet Change Size and Needs

Well-fitting footwear is important to prevent falls. Older adults’ feet change shape and size as they age, so seniors often need larger or wider footwear every few years. In fact, recent studies suggest that 75% of seniors are walking around in shoes that are too small for their feet! Seniors frequently have medical conditions that affect the size and shape of the feet as well. Hammertoes, arthritis or other conditions that affect the toes can get worse when there isn’t enough room in the toe box, the area of the slipper around the toe.

What to Look for in Proper Footwear for Seniors

It’s important for senior footwear to fit properly and have good traction in order to prevent falls. Shoes and slippers should have hard rubber soles, and an insole that offers good foot and ankle support. Footwear should fit snugly but comfortably, and should allow for fluctuations in foot size if the senior has any issues with edema or swelling.

Features of Safe Shoes and Slippers for Seniors

  • Hard rubber non-slip soles
  • Supportive insole
  • Roomy toe box
  • Easy to slip on and off
  • Enclosed heel
  • Proper fit
  • Comfortable

What to Avoid in Footwear for Seniors

  • Smooth soles
  • Open backs
  • High Heels
  • Flip Flops
  • Slipper Socks

Comfortable socks with non-slip rubber tread can be a comfortable and helpful solution for seniors with swollen feet. They are also a good choice for wearing to bed, especially if the senior wouldn’t remember or want to bother with putting on slippers to get to the bathroom in the middle of the night. While supportive slippers are a better choice for fall prevention, slipper socks are better than bare feet.

Elderly Care Services can Help Get the Right Footwear

There are many reasons seniors don’t wear safe footwear. It can be tough to find well-fitting shoes or slippers with good support, especially something that aligns with the senior’s personal style preferences. Elderly care services can help. Elderly care aides often take seniors shopping. The aide can pick up the senior at home and help them get ready to go, if needed. They can help them into the car and drive them to the podiatrist or specialty footwear store for updated professional sizing and personalized recommendations based on their unique needs.

Falls can be extremely debilitating, painful and expensive. They can terribly impact a senior’s quality of life. It is worth taking a little time to find footwear that will be safe and comfortable for an older adult’s changing feet.

If you are considering Elderly Care Services in Fremont OH, please contact the caring staff at Med1Care. Located in Toledo and Findlay. Serving clients in all of northern Ohio including Bowling Green, Bryan, Bucyrus, Celina, Defiance, Findlay, Fremont, Kenton, Lima, Lorain, Mansfield, Marion, Mount Gilead, Napoleon, Norwalk, Ottawa, Paulding, Port Clinton, Sandusky, Tiffin, Toledo, Upper Sandusky, Van Wert, Wapakoneta, Wauseon and all nearby areas. Toledo 419.866.0555 | Findlay 419.422.0305

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