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The truth is, showering my dad is one of the most challenging ADLs (activities of daily living) caregivers handle. And my dad’s feet need particular care.
We’re talking about cleaning the feet of the elderly.
In the case of my dad, my mom showers him every day, and special attention to the feet is required once or twice each week. And it’s a chore.
Even when the Parkinson’s got him in freeze mode [1], and even when dementia’s got him calling curse names [2], hygiene is a basic part of human dignity, and hygiene prevents disease [3].
Cleaning the body and cleaning those feet are things a caregiver does, like it or not.
A foot scrubber could literally mean anything used to scrub the foot. This ones particularly easy to use for the elderly, because it stays put in one place on the floor.
It’s flexible and bristly and just a safe, soft, sudsy scrubber you put on the floor.
Don’t scrub too hard. It could cause red skin or mild bleeding.
Don’t slip and fall in the bath or shower.
Love, Lori Shower Foot Massager Scrubber on Amazon #ad. This one’s very popular on Amazon. It’s shaped like feet with longer bristles at the toe like foamy tentacles to gently scrub away toe jelly.
Newthinking Shower Foot Scrubber Cleaner on Amazon. This one’s the same style for people who prefer a rectangular shape.
Elderly people typically only use a silicone foot scrubber once a week. Beyond cleanliness, those massagers claim boosting blood flow and circulation. I’m not sure that’s true.
It can help break down calluses and rough heels better not using it at all. That’s probably true.
For caregivers who administer the shower to another person, it’s another thing you have to store in the shower, and have to rinse out between use.
It’s the most feasible way I’ve found to proactively plan for good foot health into old age, because it most easily fits into a shower routine.
The idea of filial piety promotes sons washing the feet of their fathers in foot basins. Does it work for modern day family caregivers?
Hot water is the most common way to use a basin.
Don’t water burn yourself. You have to make sure the water isn’t too hot before touching the water.
People with fungus on your feet beware. “Supple, Soft, Moisturized Feed” could be a code word for moist skin that fungus and bacteria thrives on.
If you choose to footbath, then monitor for fungus, and always dry the feet off completely before after the bath and before putting on socks and shoes.
Mantello Foot Soaking Bath Basin on Amazon. This one is very popular on Amazon.
Alimtois Soaking Foot Tub on Amazon. This one comes with a matching silicon foot scrubber in the same foot shape as the plastic basin.
A few teaspoons of epsom salt, or a few drops of tea tree oil are common ways to enhance the experience with fragrance and extra soothing properties.
I’d want to make sure that water, salt, oils, soap, or anything else you put into the water won’t actually hurt my dad. His feet are already chronically in bad shape, so that stuff might sting and be worse for his health, due to the sores that already exist on his feet.
The first time you try a water basin to clean your aging family member’s feet, do so with lukewarm water. Don’t add anything else, just water. Not too hot.
People get crazy with alcohol and lemon juice to exfoliate their feet for beauty purposes (not recommended). Soaking in water alone a better place to start.
Soaking in water alone helps with circulation in their feet and reduces swelling. But these claims might not be enough to make a difference. [4]
Again, once or twice a week is about right to enjoy the benefits of the warm water foot bath. (Or to do the chore of giving a warm water foot bath to your elder who can’t do it themselves.)
This one is more like a toothbrush for your foot.
If I'm serious about preventing foot ulcers and brushing away dead skin, then this looks like the foot-shaped hand-operated brush for the job.
Tbestmax Hard Frame Plastic Shower Foot Scrubber on Amazon. This is the best model I could find, and it comes in a pair.
Due to its hard plastic frame, the thing looks hideous in your home, but it might be the most comfortable way for caregivers to clean someone else’s feet. You just need one hand to hold the shoe and scrub each foot one by one.
These things look dangerous if you put them flat on the floor. And I wouldn’t trust them to put my full weight on (slip and fall). But for the case of the caregiver who’s got it like a tool in their hand - that’s workable.
Dry foot protectors are like a waterproof sock used when you need to shower, but you can’t get the foot wet. For example, after a foot injury with a healing wound.
TKWC Inc Above Ankle Watertight Protector on Amazon. This one’s a top brand available on Amazon, and fits just above the ankle.
TKWC Inc Below Knee Dry Foot Shower Protector on Amazon. From the same manufacturer, to keep the lower-leg dry.
These are damned uncomfortable, and slippery on the floor. My dad would hate to wear one of these, and wouldn’t cooperate to put it on.
That’s why I’d only plan to use this when it’s doctor’s orders. Which makes sense, since this is a special case foot care product designed to be worn only when needed.
Have some compassion for the heavy responsibility that is making healthcare decisions for others.
In one case, my family was too late, and we carry this guilt. My dad has diabetes on top of his Parkinson’s and dementia. A few of his toes were amputated some years back. The doctors amputated my dad’s toes because the diabetes ulcer had gone too far. We didn’t catch it in time.
Please learn from our mistakes.
The guilt family caregivers carry when they didn’t prevent a preventable amputation of a family member’s toes due to diabetes? It’s a tremendous source of shame, and I’m reminded of it when tending to my dad’s feet in the shower.
I (am trying to) accept my past mistakes, and learn elderly feet hygiene best practice to prevent it from happening again - so far as is in my power.
By continuing to deliver improved foot care to my dad, I demonstrate, I’ve learned my lesson.
