About a third of aging adults experience foot pain when they reach the age of 65. This comes with aching feet and stiffness as well. Chronic foot problems may arise at this age; thus, your loved ones require attention and special care. The range of foot problems in seniors is plenty, thus you need to be familiar with the most common ones.
Bunion
This is a bony bump that you may notice appear on the edge of the foot, particularly inside where the bone meets the big toe. This one commonly affects about 25 to 33 percent of adults and comes with a genetic component. It appears mostly in women, as well as older adults.
Calluses
These develop usually as a response to excessive friction and rubbing. They are commonly flat, dull, and rough, and brings about a dull yellow color on the affected skin layer, usually that of the soles of the feet. They have a uniform thickness to them and can make walking more difficult due to the pain that it brings.
Corns
Usually forming on top of the toes and/or foot, corns come with a core that is characterized by a dense, thick knot on the center. They appear usually on that area of the foot where the greatest compression is applied when using a shoe. Causing discomfort, it will be more painful if you walk using your shoes when you have one. They can be hard or soft and can be kept moist by sweat.
Cracked Heels
Healthy feet have thick, strong, and supple soles. These allow anyone to feel protected when walking. In time, they can dry out, particularly if you lack diligence in taking care of them. Those cracked heels can hurt when you walk and even bleed at times. When open wounds are neglected, they can lead to infection.
Fat Pad Atrophy
This can be one of the most painful foot problems an aging adult may experience. It happens when the foot forms a padding resulting from weight and fat accumulation. This comes with treatments like filler injections, orthotics, and using shoes with cushions in them.
Heel Pain
Posterior heel pain is a subset of heel pain syndrome. This causes patients to complain of pain in the heel, thus prohibiting them from walking. The other type, known as plantar heel pain, is also predominant in this common foot problem.
Ingrown Toenail
This happens when the nail curves down to the surrounding skin on the toes. This brings about discomfort because of the way it grows, and commonly affects the big toe. It is accompanied by swelling and redness, as well as yellow drainage, at the worst. It may resolve without seeking treatment, but it can become complicated too.
Medical attention may be needed in most of the conditions mentioned above, and with proper care for the patient, the problem may resolve in due time. If you are moving a loved one to an assisted living home, it will be good to inform team members about their condition. That way, they will be given the proper attention that they need. Feel free, to ask them about amenities that your loved ones will enjoy while living in this community, in order to avoid these problems.
