Durham Foot Care Nurse

Good morning dear client, what does your tread look like on your slippers? Most are slippery to walk down the stairs. My falls prevention tip is to have a pair of clean indoor shoes to wear in the house with good tread to prevent slipping. We will discuss choosing a good pair of shoes in a seperate post.

May you have a healthy Easter! Jesus is Risen!!

In Pursuit of the Perfect Shoe (Selected paragraphs reposted) There are many factors to be considered when shopping for the perfect shoe: a safe and secure sole, good style, practical function, good grip, adequate size, appropriate material, protective covering, stability, cushioning, and support.... The elderly experience a lot of changes in their feet as they age, as you may notice if you slip off your loved ones shoes. Seniors also have less bone mass, so they are prone to fractures. They endure more inflammation and pain, so they have sore feet and need comfortable shoes. They lose protective fat padding on their feet so they become more prone to developing callouses and corns. Their skin thins so they can tear easily if their feet aren’t protected. This is why your loved one may have to wear booties to off load pressure so their wounds and ulcers heal. Regarding shoe materials, leather shoes are ideal, whereas plastics and synthetics breed moisture. You can have a shoe maker balloon the leather shoe out to make space for bunions. Size is very important when choosing a shoe. I’ll share with you some more of my instructor’s advice: Take out the shoe insert and overlay it with the tracing of your foot. Specifically, when selecting new shoes, consider that your feet swell at the end of the day and they splay when standing. So try on new shoes standing up in the evening. As my instructor would say, is there 1/4" wider than the widest part of your foot? Is there a thumb width space at the back of your heel? Is there adequate depth in the toe box from the highest part of your foot like a high arch, overlapping toe, contracted hammer toe? Shoes should be snug and the toe box not too tight. If your foot hurts when you try on shoes, they are best left on the shelf. This should prevent any reddened areas or blistering. As I lie here airing out my feet, I realize that I already have my ideal shoes - my well-worn running shoes with custom made orthotics. Next time, we will explore how to take care of your feet.

Good morning dear client, what does your tread look like on your slippers? Most are slippery to walk down the stairs. My falls prevention tip is to have a pair of clean indoor shoes to wear in the house with good tread to prevent slipping. We will discuss choosing a good pair of shoes in a seperate post.

Are you staying home and washing your hands?!

Dear clients, since the strong recommendation from the nursing association to not go place to place providing you with foot care, to prevent the spread of COVID-19 infection, to save lives. Then I can do all my clients footcare that i have committed to. I will be staying in touch by online and phone weekly.... When we feel like we are alone, we can remind ourselves that Jesus said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

How and when to use hand sanitizer and How to properly wash your hands https://www.publichealthontario.ca//hand-hygie/jcyh-videos

Show the skin on your hands some love after a day of handwashing, moisturize with lotion!Show the skin on your hands some love after a day of handwashing, moisturize with lotion!

As per the strong recommendations from the nursing association weRPN /RPNAO, foot care is to be put on hold, and postponed. This is for infection control purposes, as life and respiratory health , is prioritized for now over foot health and wellbeing. Stay healthy, and remember only Jesus is the Peince of Lasting Peace!!

Update about the COVID-19 There is a lot of misinformation out in the internet, particularily regarding home remedies that are not scientifically proven. Here is a compilation of some websites that are reputable, where you can educate yourself during this unsettling time, as we live through the pandemic.... Ontario Public Health Agency https://www.ontario.ca/page/2019-novel-coronavirus Durham Health Department https://www.durham.ca//healt/novel-coronavirus-update.aspx Self-Assessment Screening Tool https://www.ontario.ca/page/2019-novel-coronavirus Stay healthy, and remember, lasting peace comes only through the Prince of Peace, Jesus!

Your next foot care appointment can be arranged by calling or texting 905-922-6199 or emailing me at [email protected]. It is my policy to reply within 24 hours.

I should take my own advice. Stepping into a snowbank hurredly with boots yet sockless, i continued on a much-needed long dog walk. Noticed recently, a burst blister on the plantar aspect of my first metatarsal head. It had ready torn leaving a macerated skin flap. It is important to wear socks in your boots to wick away moisture from the feet to prevent friction and shear as was refreshing Ruth Ruttan's Corns, Callouses and Warts course today.... I had neglected my feet in the busyness of the week. Do you have your next foot care appointment booked? While you are busy checking your calendar, i will tend to my feet. ...

Merry Christmas

As we age, our skin gets thinner and our nails get thicker. Our body tries to protect our boney prominences with corns and callouses. This is why we need regular foot care.