Columbia Aged Care

As we age our feet get bigger, and so we must accommodate this by buying wider or larger shoes, however, many people don’t. By wearing shoes that are ill fitted, too narrow, too tight or not suitable for the wearer, you increase the risk of falls and increase discomfort in the feet, ankles and knees.

Aged Carer has provided some tips on how to find comfortable shoes that fit well.

• Feet can swell during the day so shop for shoes when feet are at their largest – this is generally at the end of the day.
• When trying shoes on, stand up and walk around. Wiggle your toes and make sure that your longest toe has at least a one centimetre gap between it and the end of the shoe.
• Choose shoes that have a rubber sole – this will ensure more comfort as rubber soles provide cushioning for the foot.
• Velcro straps are easiest for arthritic hands.
• Ensure the shoe protects foot from injury.

Uncomfortable or ill fitted shoes can cause many problems and even injuries. To ensure you are making the right decision when buying shoes ask for staff assistance at a shoe shop or take a trip to a podiatrist and ask what shoes they recommend for you.

Read the full article here.

This year’s winter seems to be one of the coldest we have had in a while. The cold weather can have health implications for us all but in particular vulnerable groups such as elderly people are most at risk.

Charnwood.gov has provided some helpful and simple tips to help you make sure your loved one stays warm this winter:

• Make sure your loved one keeps warm at all times – even if it appears to be mild outside.
• Make sure your loved one’s hands and feet are kept warm as cold temperatures can cause problems with circulation.
• Make sure your loved one keeps their windows and doors closed during cold weather as most people are more likely to be struck by the common cold if they have a cold nose.
• Encourage your loved one to use heating appliances.
• Be sure your loved one wears adequate warm clothing – several layers is better than one thick layer.
• Be sure to encourage your loved one to visit their doctor or medical centre and get vaccinated for the flu, as it can affect elderly people much more severely.

If your loved one lives alone, or you have an elderly friend or neighbour, be sure to check up on them and encourage them to stay warm this winter.

Read the full article here.

It’s easy to make excuses not to visit your loved one in an aged care facility: life is busy, it can make us feel helpless, the environment can be upsetting. However, it’s important to visit in order to maintain emotional ties with loved ones. 

Aged Care Crisis has provided information about how visiting will benefit your loved one, what you can talk to your loved one about and how to make your visit a success.

• Visiting helps brighten your loved one’s day and maintains their connection to the family and community.
• What can you do and talk about while you are visiting? Reminisce about fun times, read a story or share family news. Possible activities are painting fingernails, writing a letter, playing cards, going for a walk, bringing children or pets – or even bringing your loved one’s favourite food.
• Make your visit great by asking your loved one the best time to visit, establishing a regular day to visit so your loved one has something to look forward to, always showing up when you say you will and taking your loved one out of their room for a change of scenery.

Read the full article HERE.

Older people who have had diabetes for many years are at risk of long term complications. A condition called diabetic neuropathy causes pain and loss of feeling in the feet. Reduced sensation can mean a small blister or sore can go unnoticed and a minor sore can quickly become infected and turn into a foot ulcer.

Even small changes to the condition of the feet and nails should be treated seriously. Minor cuts, scrapes and blisters should be inspected by a doctor if they don't heal rapidly. However, there are many good sources of information available. Aged Carer has provided some useful tips for older people living with diabetes to help prevent foot ulcers. 

• Inspect feet daily – your podiatrist can show you how to do this.
• Always wear shoes to protect feet from injury.
• Avoid getting feet too hot or too cold.
• Dry feet carefully. Pat dry with a soft towel rather than rubbing.
• When choosing shoes and socks, avoid socks with elastic bands, don’t buy shoes that need breaking in and buy shoes at the end of the day when feet are a little swollen.
• Enjoy gentle exercise and follow a healthy eating plan.

If you notice any changes such as wounds that don’t heal, bruising, increased temperature and pain, see your doctor immediately. Remember, there are many forms of help that you can turn to. Special equipment such as diabetic socks is widely available. Diabetic foot care and regular visits to a podiatrist is the key to detecting foot problems early and avoiding serious complications.

Read the full article HERE.

While information technology has become second nature to younger generations, it still remains a bewildering and scary concept to many elderly people.

Technological advances now allow elderly people to have access to new systems and programs designed to help them live independently.

To help them make the most of technology, and stay in contact with friends and family more easily why not set aside some time to help them understand the concept and how to use technology, such as computers, the internet, emailing and even mobile phones.

Chad Hunter has provided four helpful tips on how to teach technology to the elderly these include:

1. Be patient.
Take your time and slowly go through the whole process clearly and concisely. Making the person feel rushed, stupid or incompetent will not help the situation. Remember this is all new and difficult to understand.Take your time and take breaks if you get frustrated.

2. Use analogies.
Elderly people are used to learning new things and have learnt alot during their lives. Use analogies to describe different terminologies and instructions to help them not only understand but remember when you aren’t there.

3. Spoon-feed terms.
World wide web, email, hard drives and symbols like ‘@’ are all new to elderly people with no technological knowledge. Go through it slowly since most of these terms seem like a foreign language to younger learners, you can imagine what your elderly student might be feeling. It would be a good idea to put together a glossary and instructions that they can refer to and study.

4. Practice makes perfect.
Sit with your student and go over concepts and practice exercises with them. Give them tasks and things of their interest to do on the computer. Show them how email can connect them to family. Show them how digital cameras can capture hundreds of photos.

Once you find things of interest for them, have them practice these steps as much as possible.

Many older people continue to wear ill fitting shoes contributing to pain and trauma in the feet and toes.

Aged carer has provided some helpful hints for buying shoes for the elderly.

Ageing feet
Our feet get bigger with age but many people buy shoes that don't fit properly. Wearing shoes that are too narrow or illsuited to the condition of the feet increase the risk of falls and discomfort from bunions and calluses.

If you are buying shoes for a family member, make sure they fit comfortably on the spot and are appropriate for the kind of activity intended. It can help to get the feet measured and shoes properly fitted by a professional. Shoes need to be of sufficient length and width. Some people may need to wear special orthoses (inserts) or a custom made shoe to fit misshapen feet. People with hammertoe for instance will need a shoe with enough toe room.

If a loved one has diabetes take special care when choosing a shoe, watch out for inside seams that could cause pressure or friction on the feet.

For people in residential care, ask a local shoe shop if they can visit an aged care home or take a tracing of your family member's foot for some indication of shoe size, take it with you to avoid too many return visits.

Tips for finding shoes for ageing feet

• Feet can swell during the day so shop for shoes when feet are their largest (end of day)
• Shoes should not need "breaking in" they should fit comfortably from the start
• Ensure the toes don't touch the end of the shoe, allow a 1cm gap from the longest toe
• Choose rubber soles for extra cushioning
• Ensure shoes are wide and deep enough to prevent heel slip
• Lace up, buckles or Velcro should hold the heel in place Velcro straps can be easier for arthritic hands
• Slip on shoes can encourage the toes to ‘claw’ at the shoe to keep it on leading to discomfort, corns and calluses
• Look for shoes with soft leather uppers
• Ensure shoes protect the feet from injury
• Ask your podiatrist about specific lace techniques to prevent heel slip