In-Home Podiatry

Home Care Podiatry Service

Podiatry plays an important role in maintaining an older person’s foot and lower limb health, mobility and independence and managing falls risk. 

Guide’s podiatry service includes:

• A comprehensive initial and ongoing assessment of the general foot health in the person’s home; including skin integrity and build up, nail health, foot deformities, pressure areas and risk, and circulation issues

• Development of individual care plans to ensure their foot care needs are appropriately met

• General podiatric treatments including the management of nails, skin build up and calluses, fungal infections and ingrown toenails

• Specialists diabetic foot care including the management of diabetic ulcers

• Treatment plans for the management of foot deformities including bunions, claw or hammer toes

• Free basic orthotic prescription and moulding for suitable residents

• Assessment and treatment of acute and chronic painful musculoskeletal conditions of the foot, ankle and lower limb

• Gait assessment and exercise prescription to assist with mobility and falls risk

• Footwear reviews and education to assist with reducing an older person’s pain experience and falls risk

• Education and training for family members, friends and carers to assist them to better maintain the foot health of the older person

• Regular visiting schedules are established and communicated via a preferred method for each person. This may include via phone call, email, text message, appointment card or by writing it on the persons calendar in their home.

Managing Falls Risk at Home

Falls are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in older adults. It’s very important that we take a proactive approach to falls prevention for older people living at home. This should incorporate a multidisciplinary team approach, which includes the involvement of an experienced homecare podiatrist. The Guide Healthcare podiatry team are experts at reducing an older person’s risk of falling.

Poor footwear significantly increases an older person’s falls risk and is a contributing factor in many falls which occur within the home. As a standard inclusion, Guide Healthcare homecare podiatrist offer comprehensive footwear assessments and recommendations to improve balance, mobility and prevent falls.

Guide’s footwear assessments are specific to common foot conditions such as bunions, oedema and deformities as well as disease processes associated with diabetes, arthritis and peripheral vascular disease. Comfortable, well-fitting footwear can significantly improve quality of life and reduce falls risk.