Our back and legs deserve their fair share of credit for enabling us to walk upright, but we certainly couldn't get very far without our feet. And we make enormous demands on our feet every day.
Not only do we regularly ignore our feet, it takes foot pain to get our attention.
Because our feet mirror our general health, foot ailments often show the initial symptoms of more serious medical problems such as arthritis, nerve and circulatory disorders and diabetes.
In older people, feet lose cushioning, the skin and nails can grow dry and brittle and foot problems are more common. Preventing a problem is much easier than curing one. Plus, staying mobile is linked directly to the health of our feet.
To that end, the Traverse City Senior Center offers two different programs specifically for feet.
The first is a general foot hygiene service conducted by Nancy, LPN and Pat, RN, two nurses from the Grand Traverse Commission on Aging (the commission does not reveal last names).
The other, a holistic prevention program called Reflexology, is administered by Leslie Friend, a graduate of the Original Ingham Method of Reflexology and a member of The International Institute of Reflexology. She received her Michigan certification in May 1996.
Older people become less agile, may experience shortness of breath or dizziness while bending over, or may not be able to reach their feet due to arthritic conditions or muscular weakness. As a result, it may be difficult to maintain good foot hygiene. In the foot care program, a nursing assessment helps seniors understand risk factors and identify any foot problems.
The service also includes foot soaking, nail trimming, callous buffing and a foot massage to encourage circulation. If Nancy or Pat identifies the need for more specialized treatment to an individual's feet, a referral is made.
"Nancy and Pat are just a lot of fun," Georgia Durga, director of GTCOA, said, "So, you not only get foot care, you get entertainment while they're caring for your feet."
Service for the foot care is by appointment to Grand Traverse County residents and must be arranged at the individual clinic sites in advance with a purchase of a coupon from GTCOA. In addition to the Traverse City Senior Center (922-4911), foot care clinics are held at the Commission on Aging office (922-4688) and the Garfield Township Hall (941-1620). The fee is a sliding scale based on an individual's monthly income and starts at $1.
"We can serve anyone 60 and over," Durga said. "They don't have to be low income, therefore the fees for our services are assessed accordingly."
The holistic program has been practiced by many civilizations, Friend said. "... By applying pressure in a specific technique it increases the circulation to those areas. Reflexology is a type of preventative maintenance."
"... Our lives can be very stressful and many health problems begin when we are under stress," Friend said. "Receiving reflexology sessions is a way to reduce stress and bring balance back into your body."
Perhaps the old adage "If your feet hurt, you hurt all over" says it best, because the health of your feet influences the well-being of the rest of your body and definitely your disposition. It is never too late, especially for seniors, to begin a foot care or fitness program.
At the senior center, the foot care program is on the first and third Thursdays of the month and Friend is available on the third Friday of every month for Reflexology at $5 per session. For more information and to make a reservation, call the Senior Center at 922-4911 or e-mail lwells@tcseniorcenter.com.
Kathleen Bellaw Gest is a local freelance writer. For more about the Traverse City Senior Center, go to www.tcseniorcenter.com.
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