The Short Guide to Foot Care in Later Life
Foot Care in Later Life: the whole thing in five minutes, for when you want the numbers and nothing else.
Keeping feet comfortable and functional as reaching them gets harder.
Key takeaways
- Common problems: thickened nails, corns, dry skin, reduced sensation
- Contributes to: falls and loss of independence
- Most useful single change: Ask about NHS podiatry if you cannot reach or see your feet.
- Commonest mistake: Cutting corns or calluses yourself.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to speak to a doctor" below apply to you.
The numbers, in one place
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Common problems | thickened nails, corns, dry skin, reduced sensation |
| Contributes to | falls and loss of independence |
| Podiatry | available on the NHS for those who meet local criteria |
| Annual check | essential with diabetes |
In one paragraph
Foot problems are a common and underestimated cause of reduced mobility and falls in older adults.
Worth doing
- Ask about NHS podiatry if you cannot reach or see your feet
- Moisturise daily except between the toes
- Have footwear checked; ill-fitting shoes are a falls risk
Worth avoiding
- Cutting corns or calluses yourself
- Walking in loose slippers or socks on hard floors
- Ignoring numbness, which removes your warning system
Where to go next
- Foot Care in Later Life: Common Questions Answered
- Foot Care in Later Life: What the Evidence Actually Says
- Foot Care in Later Life — the reference entry
- Swollen Ankles: What Published Guidance Supports
- Feet and Exercise: What the Evidence Actually Says
When to speak to a doctor
See a GP after any fall, even without injury. Seek same-day advice for a foot wound that is not healing, spreading redness, or a foot that is cold, pale or suddenly painful. Any foot problem in diabetes needs same-day assessment.
Where this comes from
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarised or generalised beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to a GP, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 999.
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