Home Aide Research Paper
The Home Care Aide and Common Foot Issues (Bunions, Fungal Infections, Etc.)
It is estimated that nearly 90 percent of Americans will have foot pain at some time in their lives, and one-third of seniors over 65 live with foot pain on a daily basis. In fact, according to Healthinaging, foot pain is one of the most common complaints among seniors.
Not only do are painful feet unpleasant to have, but they can also be a safety hazard. When feet hurt, it is harder to walk and the pain may throw off your balance. This increases the risk of falling. For a home care aide looking to keep your senior loved one safe, this is an area of concern.
While some foot problems sneak up on us, others are problems of our own creation. Bunions are deformities on the bone at the base of the big toe. They are primarily caused by wearing shoes that are too narrow or too small. Over half of the women in the Unites States have bunions as a result of wearing tight, narrow shoes for long periods of time. Making matters worse, podiatrists claim that 75 percent of seniors over 65 wear shoes that are too small.
Smaller bunions can be addressed with pads and properly-sized shoes. Larger and more painful bunions must be removed surgically under local …show more content…
While ingrown toenails can also be caused by ill-fitting shoes, most of them are the result of poorly trimmed nails. According to the Cleveland Foot and Ankle Clinic, "Cutting toenails properly goes a long way toward the prevention of ingrown toenails. Using a safety nail clipper, cut the nails straight across, so that the nail corner is visible. If you cut the nail too short, you are inviting the nail corner to grow into the skin." The corners of the nail should not be cut out, except by a podiatrist. Have a home care aid regularly assist with the trimming and care of the nails can also go a long way in preventing ingrown
It is estimated that nearly 90 percent of Americans will have foot pain at some time in their lives, and one-third of seniors over 65 live with foot pain on a daily basis. In fact, according to Healthinaging, foot pain is one of the most common complaints among seniors.
Not only do are painful feet unpleasant to have, but they can also be a safety hazard. When feet hurt, it is harder to walk and the pain may throw off your balance. This increases the risk of falling. For a home care aide looking to keep your senior loved one safe, this is an area of concern.
While some foot problems sneak up on us, others are problems of our own creation. Bunions are deformities on the bone at the base of the big toe. They are primarily caused by wearing shoes that are too narrow or too small. Over half of the women in the Unites States have bunions as a result of wearing tight, narrow shoes for long periods of time. Making matters worse, podiatrists claim that 75 percent of seniors over 65 wear shoes that are too small.
Smaller bunions can be addressed with pads and properly-sized shoes. Larger and more painful bunions must be removed surgically under local …show more content…
While ingrown toenails can also be caused by ill-fitting shoes, most of them are the result of poorly trimmed nails. According to the Cleveland Foot and Ankle Clinic, "Cutting toenails properly goes a long way toward the prevention of ingrown toenails. Using a safety nail clipper, cut the nails straight across, so that the nail corner is visible. If you cut the nail too short, you are inviting the nail corner to grow into the skin." The corners of the nail should not be cut out, except by a podiatrist. Have a home care aid regularly assist with the trimming and care of the nails can also go a long way in preventing ingrown