Warm weather is here, and your elderly loved one is excited to slip into her favorite strappy sandals and enjoy the sunshine and fresh air. However, as she gets ready, she notices her heels and feet are extremely dry and cracked, with rough patches and possibly even open sores that need attention. This is where personal care at home becomes essential—not only to restore her feet to good health but also to ensure they stay healthy and comfortable.
Taking care of dry, cracked feet is about more than just appearances—it’s about keeping your loved one’s feet in great condition so she can confidently enjoy the season.
What Causes Dry Feet in the Elderly
The primary reason an elderly loved one suffers from dry feet is due to changes in their skin as they age. The body’s ability to retain moisture diminishes over time, which can lead to common issues like dry skin, cracked nails, and brittle hair. When it comes to the feet, this dryness often impacts the heels and sometimes the soles.
Proper personal care at home services can play an essential role in managing these changes and preventing discomfort.
Medications can also contribute to dry skin, including the feet. For instance, diuretics may cause excessive dryness and pain. Additionally, health conditions such as diabetes, hypothyroidism, and kidney disease are frequent culprits behind dry feet in the elderly.
Dry Skin Symptoms
Dry skin can come and go, but consistent dry skin on the feet requires proper personal care at home services to prevent it from worsening. Without care, the skin may peel and catch on items like socks or carpeting, leading to tears or holes in the skin.
Dry skin on the feet often cracks, becomes rough, and can even cause pain. If left untreated, calluses may build up around the affected areas, making the condition more uncomfortable.
Caring for Dry Skin on the Feet and Personal Care at Home
To help your loved one get her feet back in good health and ready for those strappy sandals, it’s important to establish a regular care routine. For many elderly people who struggle to put on their feet due to mobility or flexibility issues, it can be a struggle to properly care for their feet.
In this case, a personal care at home attendant may be just what they need to help them with their foot care. A personal care at home provider can help them with the hands-on care needed for better skin.
Other steps your loved one can take to improve their foot skin health include:
- Avoid using too hot water when bathing or showering. Hot water can strip the skin of the moisture it needs.
- Use a moisturizer that is specifically created for dry feet or dry heels. It’ll need to be a bit thicker than normal lotion in order to provide the relief needed. Your loved one should strive to have it applied twice daily if she is able to do it herself. If not, her personal care at home provider can apply it with each visit.
- If dry air is a problem, consider having your loved one use a humidifier in her bedroom to prevent dry air from making her symptoms worse.
- Stay hydrated. Keeping the body hydrated helps all areas of the body maintain the moisture levels they need to stay in good health.
With proper foot care from personal care at home and family caregivers, it won’t be long until your loved one can wear her favorite sandals again and feel confident while wearing them.
If you or an aging loved one is considering hiring Personal Care at Home in Campbell, CA, contact the friendly staff at Home Care Professionals today.
Call (866)-940-4855
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