Older people left housebound by a lack of NHS foot-care services
Date: Wednesday, August 24th 2011
Categories: All Leicestershire
The BBC reported recently that older people are being left housebound and disabled by a lack of NHS foot-care services in England - according to the charity Age Concern.
The charity is also concerned that a lack of basic foot care puts the elderly at risk of complications that can lead to dangerous falls, severe restrictions on mobility and social isolation. It believes that foot-care services should be free and universally available to those who need them, but it's found that services are being restricted or even withdrawn in many parts of England.
To tackle the issue, Age Concern has launched a campaign called 'Feet for Purpose' which aims to raise awareness of the problem.
Office of National Statistics figures show that over a third of people aged over 65 can't cut their own toenails and stuggle to access NHS services.
Age Concern say that some people are even trying to cut their nails with gardening shears.
Older people may need to see a chiropodist for all sorts of reasons including foot problems caused by poor circulation, ulcers or overlapping toes.
Have you had problems with accessing foot care for the person you care for or do you know of a good foot-care service where you live? Please share your experiences to help other carers.
Thank you!
You can read the story in full on the BBC's website
Take a look at Age Concern's guide to caring for your feet for some handy tips!
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