If you have a loved one who is elderly, you want to make sure they are taking good care of themselves and that you are assisting them in caring for the areas of their health that they are neglecting, for whatever reason. One of the areas many elderly people tend to neglect, with regards to their health and well-being, is their feet. Learn why they tend to neglect their feet below, as well as some ways you can help them:

They don't clip their toenails

Many elderly have long, unkempt toenails. Leaving their toenails long can lead to a variety of problems, such as stubbing their toes, getting ingrown toenails, getting a toenail fungus, breakage of the toenail, difficulty walking, and not fitting properly in their shoes. Some of the reasons they put off cutting their toenails can include no longer being flexible enough to reach them, not being able to see how long they are, and even forgetting due to early onset dementia. This is why you should help them by cutting their nails for them, or even taking them in to the podiatrist to have them tended to while they also get a full foot exam.

They don't exfoliate their feet

Many elderly also don't exfoliate their feet. This can lead to large callous buildups on their heels, as well as on other areas of their feet, and these callouses can end up cracking and bleeding. Not only does this leave them open to possible infections and possibly cause them pain, but it is also dangerous if they are a diabetic. Those with diabetes have to be very careful with their legs and feet, especially when it comes to preventing wounds and properly treating any wounds they do get. They may not exfoliate because they have a hard time physically doing so, or simply because they forget. In any case, you may want to take over this part of their foot maintenance for them.

They don't seek treatment for growths and other foot problems

Elderly people can lose some of the sensation in their feet, so they don't get as bothered by things like corns or bunions as younger people would. However, they should still see the podiatrist for these issues so they can be properly treated for them and get their feet in better shape. If you notice anything going on with their feet, it's best for you to make sure they go in to see the podiatrist as soon as possible.

If your loved one isn't caring for their feet, they may end up with issues that get so bad they require surgery; they can end up needing minor general surgery, such as one for removing a bad ingrown toenail, or they may need a more serious surgery. Bunions can get so bad they require surgery, or often times a diabetic can let their foot problems get so bad that they even require a partial or even a full amputation. This is a big reason why good foot care is so important in the elderly.