Wash Your Feet When You Can’t Reach

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Wash Your Feet When You Can’t Reach

So, how do you wash your feet when you can’t reach?

Getting older often results in reduced mobility and flexibility. However, it’s not only elderly people who struggle. Pregnancy, surgery, back pain and obesity can also make it hard to wash your feet when you can’t reach.

Why are clean feet important?

Clean feet smell nicer, and good foot care is important as it helps increase circulation. This is important to anyone Diabetic and beneficial for us all.

Checking your feet regularly helps you notice skin damage or ingrowing toenails and helps avoid complications. Many people with diabetes visit a podiatrist or chiropodist to keep their feet in good condition. This used to be organised by the NHS via a GP referral, but funding cuts are seeing these services decline.

Soft-bristle foot cleaners

Wash your feet without bending. Image shows a footscrubbing mat. It sticks to the shower or bath surface and has soft silicone bristles. The one in the picture is dark grey. You can see a womans legs and feet on them

 

These soft-bristle mats are a great idea.

They are available in various colours and sizes. You just stick them securely in your shower cubicle or bath like you would a mat. Then apply shower gel to the mat and move your feet around. This creates enough lather to clean your feet and get between your toes. You can also wash your back by sticking the mat to the shower surface, making it doubly useful.

If you have balance issues, it’s sensible to use a shower stool or grab bar to steady yourself.

How to dry your feet.

Now you have a solution to wash your feet, but what about drying them? We know it’s important to dry between toes to prevent soreness and fungal infections like athlete’s foot.

Image shows a tool designed to dry between toes. It has a long white handle and a soft towelling end. There is wording on the image that says " available in 3 lengths" in black and in white "easily clean and dry your toes"

The Toe Towel was designed by a Podiatrist with over 30 years of experience caring for other people’s feet.   It has a long-reach handle and comes with a spare towel cover.

Foot Spas

Image shows an electric foot spa. The main body of it is white and the top control panel is grey. It is shown with water inside and bubbles being created by the whirlpool action

Foot Spas range in price and sophistication and make a thoughtful gift. Even the cheapest ones increase circulation and relax your feet and legs, leaving you feeling refreshed.

It is always safer to fill your foot spa where you want to use it and ensure the water is not too hot. For an elderly person living alone, these are not perfect as they are heavy to lift when full.

 

 

Caron

Award-winning blogger and former care columnist for Devon Life magazine. I am passionate about helping elderly people and people with dementia live purposeful and independent lives.
Designer of the Dementia Assistance Card and Points Of Light award recipient, Caron hopes to help carers when resources are limited and demand is ever-increasing. I am here to support you.

2 Comments

  1. […] One company who have sought to solve the issue of finding socks for problem feet is Cosyfeet and they have a wide range of footwear and socks for even the most problematic feet. […]

  2. Thank you very helpful

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