Senior Care Tips: Bringing Your Parents Shoe Shopping

Shoe shopping may have been one of your favorite activities when you were younger, and you likely have memories of heading to the shoe store to pick out new pairs for the school year, special occasions, or events. Now that you are family caregiver for your aging parents, however, you might find that going shoe shopping is less about having fun picking out the newest styles and finding that perfect pair for your favorite outfit, and more about making sure that your parents get the right shoes to keep them safe, healthy, and comfortable. This does not mean, however, that shoe shopping with your aging loved ones cannot be a smooth and even enjoyable experience.

Use these tips, and share them with your aging loved ones’ senior health care services provider, to make shoe shopping with your parents is a successful and stress-free experience:

• Practice foot hygiene. It may make you snicker a little, but one thing to keep in mind before bringing your aging parents to the shoe store is making sure their feet are clean. Feeling like their feet smell bad can embarrass them and make them less likely to cooperate with the clerk when fitting the shoes, putting them at risk of getting ill-fitting shoes. Encourage them to wash their feet carefully and apply a foot powder just before leaving for the store so that they feel confident when getting their shoes fitted.
• Know what you’re looking for. A long, drawn-out shopping experience, or feeling confused and overwhelmed by the number of options available, can leave your seniors feeling upset and anxious during the shopping experience. Instead of just going in and wandering around the store, have a clear idea of what type of shoes your aging parents would like and what they definitely would not like so that you can ask for help from a clerk who can bring you options and streamline the shopping experience.
• Think practicality. Your mother may have always worn high heels throughout her younger life, and your father may love the look of those sleek smooth soles on dress shoes, but both can put them at greater risk of slips, falls, or even damaged joints. Flat shoes with non-skid soles provide traction and improve balance to reduce this risk and make walking easier. When possible, avoid laces that can come untied and create a tripping risk.
• Bring socks. Shoe stores have those little foot covers that are supposed to make trying on shoes more hygienic, but unless your parents plan on wearing pantyhose or thin dress socks with the type of shoes they are purchasing, using these can skew the fit of the shoes they pick. Bring along the type of socks they would wear with those shoes so that you can get an accurate fitting of the shoes.
• Stand up. Do not rely just on the fit and comfort of shoes when your parents are sitting to ensure you chose the right ones. Make sure that they stand up and take a few steps to get an accurate fit and feeling.

If you or an aging loved one are considering senior care services in Harleysville, PA, contact the caring professionals at Reliant At Home Care today (610) 674-6860.