Five Oft-Neglected Foot Problems

Seemingly minor difficulties could cause you major problems in the long term. Here's what to look for.

There's a reason we talk about "getting back on your feet" after an illness or staying "on your toes": healthy feet are necessary for an active life. Yet many doctors don't even look at a patient's feet during checkups, says Valley Stream, N.Y., podiatrist Andrew Shapiro, a spokesman for the American Podiatric Medical Association. That's a mistake, Shapiro argues, because foot problems rarely get better on their own. Feet tend to deteriorate with age, as the pad of fat on the sole slowly wears down and the effects of any structural problems--legs of unequal length, for example--accumulate. Untreated problems can alter a person's gait, bring on other ailments and make it painful to walk or exercise. And when things get bad enough that people limit their movements, inactivity becomes another threat to their health.

The feet also frequently provide the first warnings of diabetes and arteriosclerosis.  So don't ignore your feet—they may be telling you something important. Here are five often-neglected foot problems that require attention. 

• 1.  Pain in your heel, especially when getting out of bed. Better-fitting shoes may be the answer, but if the pain persists, the cause may be the way your foot is built. The problem may be treatable with orthotics, custom-made shoe inserts that realign the foot. Other options include a form of shockwave therapy or surgery, but in all cases, consulting a doctor early can help avoid surgery.
• 2.     Burning, numbness or pins and needles in your feet may be a symptom of diabetes, a serious illness that can lead to foot or limb amputation, so you should tell your doctor about symptoms like these. The American Diabetes Association estimates that almost 6 million Americans suffer from diabetes without knowing it.
• 3.     Yellow nails aren't just hard on the eyes; they've been invaded by the same fungus that causes athlete's foot, which could spread to the skin. Also, a thickened nail can break through the skin and cause bacterial infections. The best therapies are available only by prescription, says Shapiro, so ask your physician.
• 4.     Bunions, knobs at the base of the big toe, come about because of inflammation or arthritis that enlarges the joint. The root cause may be structural problems in the foot or leg, or damage from tight-fitting shoes or high heels. Although not all bunions are painful, they may become so over time. Changing your shoes may help, but if the problem persists, consult your doctor; treating bunions early can help you avoid the need for surgery to remove bunions that may make it painful to walk. 
• 5. If your shoe soles don't wear down in the same way, your legs may be of different lengths, which could cause back pain. But don't worry if the outside of the heel wears down more than the inside—that's a normal result of walking.

           Temma Ehrenfeld

               Newsweek Web Exclusive

              URL: http://www.newsweek.com/id/155616 ©  2008 

THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO CAN UNDERSTAND

WHAT IT’S LIKE WHEN YOUR HUSBAND OR WIFE IS ILL ARE

ONES WHO HAVE BEEN THERE THEMSELVES

“I had been angry about my situation and felt I had to talk with someone. Then I read a blurb about the Well Spouse Association in our local paper. In the first meeting, I learned it's o.k. to be angry, frustrated, sad, etc.  It was a relief to know that others have similar problems and learn how they deal with them.  I know many members had far more serious problems than I, but listening to their stories and hearing how strong (and loving) these people were was very inspiring.  I didn’t feel so alone anymore.”  A quote from a WSA member

The Well Spouse Association-Who We Are and What We Do

“You are not alone”

     20 years ago a small group of spousal caregivers met in Pennsylvania. They were different ages, from different walks of life, from different areas of the country.  What had brought them together was that they had all read the same book, and sent a postcard to the author.  She put them in touch with each other, and they decided to meet.

     Despite the fact their spouses had different illnesses or disabilities; they found they were having the same emotions- feelings of loneliness, anger, frustration, and isolation.  And so began the first Well Spouse Foundation support group.  This one group soon turned into several local support groups and regional support group contacts. A national organization was born - a volunteer run organization whose members reached out to others in their situation, and whose mission would be to promote the emotional support of spousal caregivers.

     Fast forward to 2008-   and now thousands of Well Spouse members have benefited from the efforts of those first few volunteers. The dedicated people who have followed in their footsteps have grown into the Well Spouse Association (officially changing the name in 2005).  The WSA is a national, self help organization that focuses on providing emotional support to the many husbands, wives and partners caring for chronically ill or disabled spouses.  Services are provided through several programs: local support groups, a website forum, the Mainstay (our quarterly newsletter), Peer to Peer Mentorship and Round Robin Letter Writing programs, regional Respite Weekends and an annual National Conference. 

     Seventy-two percent of Well Spouse members are under the age of 65.  They are not only coping with a spouse’s illness and/or disability, but are dealing with running a household, being the sole income for their family, raising children,  and other such issues.  The WSA knows that “when one is sick, two need help”.   Spousal caregivers need support- from their families, their friends, and from those that understand their current situation.

     Well Spouse‘s mission is not only to help spousal caregivers cope with a difficult today, but also to help them prepare for a better tomorrow.  After the initial shock or diagnosis of an illness/disability, the caregiver turns the attention to managing the physical aspects of the illness. At some point, when the day-to-day management is underway, an “updated” version of life can begin – at WSA, we call this finding the “new normal” in our caregiving journey.

     Well Spouse cannot change the illness or disability our members face with their spouses. It is through connections made with other Well Spouse members that our members find comfort and the strength to go on in their caregiving journeys.  They learn to take care of themselves, and so are better able to care for their partners.   Well spouses who can take care of themselves are less likely to get sick themselves one day. 

          Empathy, connections, understanding, and emotional strength are what the WSA offers its members.  If you are interested in learning more about the Well Spouse Association’s membership programs, please visit the website at www.wellspouse.org.   Here you can find information on our programs, updates on caregiver issues, a directory of support groups, use our on-line forum and get resources for caregivers. For additional information, please contact our main office at (800)838-0878 or write to us at 63 West Main Street, Suite H, Freehold, NJ 07728.

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Old Age, I decided, is a gift  . . .

I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be.  Oh, not my body!  I sometimes despair over my body, the wrinkles, the baggy eyes, and the sagging butt.  And often I am taken aback by that old person that lives in my mirror ( who looks like my mother! ), but I don't agonize over those things for long.

I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly.  As I've aged, I've become more kind to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend.  

I don't chide myself   for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avante garde on my patio.  I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant. 

I  have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.

Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM and sleep until noon?

I will dance with   myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60&70's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love .. I will.

I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set .  They, too, will get old.

I know I am sometimes forgetful.  But there again, some of life is just as  well forgotten. And I  eventually remember the important things.  

Sure, over the years my heart has been broken.  How can your heart not break when you lose a loved  one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car?  But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion.  A heart never broken is pristine and  sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face.  So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.   

As you get  older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other  people think.  I don't  question myself anymore.  I've even earned the right to be wrong. 

So, to answer your question, I  like being old. It has set me free.    I like the person I have become.  I am not going to live forever,   but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be.  And I shall eat dessert every single day. (If I feel like it)

Author Unknown

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The Tree With No Limbs

Author Christine Marie Johnson of Hayden, ID will soon release her new children’s  book “The Tree with No Limbs”. Published by Tate Publishing & Enterprises, Johnson answers the question “Can one still find meaning and purpose in life if suddenly disabled?” The answer is yes!   It’s a wonderful book that is big on hope!

Can I still feel?    Am I still real?

The tree answers, Yes I am still me, and finds he still has a gift inside to share   with others regardless of his lost limbs. “The Tree with No Limbs” lets the reader  know that, if suddenly disabled, one can still find meaning and purpose in life and   use that gift given to them to bless others. This unique book draws out that   special gift with a big dose of encouragement! This book made an impact in one such life, the author’s uncle, and proven to be life-changing! “The Tree with No Limbs” is a book you will want for your library!

   A Message from author:

  “This soul warming little book has a big message: You are special! You

   are loved! You still have gifts to give the world! The Tree With No Limbs

   gives hope and encouragement to children and adults who are

   struggling with physical challenges. This book can be life-changing! The

   Tree With No Limbs proved just that in the life of my uncle who had lost

   both legs. As he lay alone in a bed in a nursing home he began to lose

   hope. One day while praying for him, two thousand miles away, I had a

   vision of a tree with no limbs. Then the words started forming, then

   pictures, and within a few hours there was a ten-page illustrated story

   to send to my uncle! He called when he got it in the mail, and through

   sobs of joy he expressed how much it meant to him! It did change his

   life! He is using his gift of creative writing and spreading sunshine

   around that nursing home. My uncle wanted The Tree With No Limbs to

   give hope to others and thanks to Tate Publishing’s exceptional quality,

   it is now a beautifully- designed book available to everyone.”

   Christine Marie Johnson,   johnsonchristinemarie@yahoo.com

The book will be available nationwide on June 3, 2008 at any bookstore nationwide or can be ordered through barnesandnoble.com, amazon.com, borders.com, target.com or directly from the publisher at orders@tatepublishing.com. An audio version of the book also is available from the publisher.

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Ombudsmen Lend Their Voices To Those Who Cannot

Speak For Themselves.

The Long Term Care Ombudsman Program of Idaho's Area VI Agency on Aging promotes  quality of care for all residents in long-term care settings.  The goals of the program are:  

• To Advocate for Resident Rights
• To investigate complaints on behalf of residents and work toward resolution.
• To provide community education on long-term care issues.
• To provide ombudsman services to all residents of all long-term care facilities in a nine county area (Marie Peterson, sub-state Ombudsman and     Helen Stanton, VISTA, Volunteer Ombudsman Coordinator cover 22,000  square miles).

To do this volunteers are needed.  Volunteer Ombudsmen Improving Care for our  Elders (VOICE) is the new Volunteer Ombudsman Program.   This Idaho pilot project recruits and trains volunteers to visit nursing homes and assisted living facilities on a weekly basis.

Each volunteer receives 24 hours of curriculum and 32 hours of one-on-one

mentoring.  Background checks are mandatory.  A technical assistance meeting is held monthly with updates and training for the volunteers.  With our volunteers, facilities are visited weekly and the residents know that they have advocates who listen and will work with the residents to help solve their problems. 

During the 1st quarter of 2008, our 10 Assistant Ombudsman Volunteers gave a total of 209 hours to the program.  They also donated their mileage for 544 miles. The hours and mileage donated gave an in-kind amount of $4,030 to the Ombudsman Program.   

The Program began in Idaho Falls with the Sub-State Ombudsman for the Elderly,  Marie Peterson.  She had a vision of how Volunteer Ombudsmen, going into a long term care facility could ease some of the loneliness of folks who have no one.  Marie wrote a grant to VISTA for a volunteer who would have time to recruit and train people for the Volunteer Ombudsman Program.  Fortunately, she ended up with Vista Volunteer, Helen Stanton.

The program is going on 5 years now and is proving to be tremendously

successful.  The residents of the facilities like the idea of having a visitor that they can complain to, discuss with and share many laughs and memories.  The Volunteers are upbeat and have gained many good experiences by giving to the residents, said Ms. Stanton.  In your state and service areas, you can make a big difference in the quality of long-term care by becoming a Volunteer Ombudsman.  Be a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves.  Visit residents a give them something to look forward to, she said. 

For additional information, contact your local Ombudsman Program or Area

Agency on Aging.   You can also contact Ms. Stanton at Eastern Idaho Community Action Partnership, Area VI Agency on Aging.

Email hstanton@eicap.org

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Everyone has a story to tell.  And many have come across stories they would like to read, particularly older adults who find reading to be a popular leisure activity. An increasing number of seniors are devouring the latest literary works, and finding their voices during peer discussions.  The enjoyment one receives from independent reading can be enhanced considerably when shared with others, particularly seniors whose life experiences often mirror the narratives they find so intriguing.  Literary Circles are social and educational gatherings where mentors or group leaders facilitate discussions and promote dialogue between participants.

What follows is a glimpse of my personal experience facilitating a Literary Circle:

“I led a group of women on a journey of self-discovery.   There were ten women in all, most of them having celebrated between 90 and 100 birthdays respectively.  Like clockwork, they slowly pushed their walkers toward our sunny, glass-enclosed meeting room.  As they reached the door, they gingerly let go of their walkers, parked them in a neat line, and walked with effort by themselves into the room.  It is as if they were determined to reclaim their independence, albeit temporarily, for this sacred hour each week.  As they arranged themselves casually on the sofas and chairs, and around the table, I realized they were relaxed and comfortable with each other.  Rarely did they claim the same seat each week, open to newness. Their chatting served as a balm, temporarily erasing their aches and pains.  Eager eyes quickly scanned the room, taking a silent roll call.  Our Literary Circle came to order.

The magic in this room was fueled by what the casual observer could not see.  For beyond the physical frailties and tired bodies, were women young in spirit, shining bright with intellect, struggling to realign their perception of themselves with what the world sees of them.  After nearly nine decades or more they were empowered to claim their self-worth, and find their voice through literature.

For over a year we gathered together to share our love of reading, a superficial goal, it is now realized.  For in those months we shared so much more.  We bridged the gap of diversity, sharing our differences in backgrounds:  Jewish and Christian, rich and poor, formally educated and those who were forced to abandon their dreams due to economic hardships.   We discussed marriages, widowhood, and motherhood, and with each revelation, a deeper level of understanding and appreciation for each other.

Our first novel together, The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd, cemented our sisterhood!  Together we explored our feelings of loss, of friendship, and vulnerability.  We spoke of forgiveness.  More importantly, we learned to trust each other as we shared our stories and opened our hearts.  What was spoken in our cozy room was not to be shared beyond the door.  There was a feeling of safety.  Ideas were swirling about and voices were beginning to be heard.  We were gaining momentum…like the bees.

By the time we read, The Color of Water by James McBride our Circle was stronger than ever.  Then again, it would have to be to tackle the issues of faith and racism that we did.  I will forever remember the grace which was present in that room the morning we discussed the shameful acts committed by the character’s father, a rabbi, upon his daughter.  How gracious the Christian women of the Circle were in their pronouncement that atrocities of this nature knew no religious boundaries.   I realized at that moment how significant this understanding was for this generation.  It was if the

hands of one tiny group of women were reaching out to one another in an attempt to bridge the gap of so many years of strife.   Finally, at the conclusion of this book, we celebrated with the heroine as she achieved remarkable goals through perseverance and determination despite her advancing years.

As December approached and the holidays drew near, we prepared to celebrate a very special occasion: our eldest Circle member was about to mark her one-hundredth birthday!  Purposefully, I chose this time to present these remarkable women, with a very special gift:  Lynda M. Nelson’s heartwarming book, The Little Red Buckets.  It is a story of family and giving, and more importantly offers an eternal perspective.  As I had hoped, it nudged the women into a deeper level of thinking than we had previously explored as a group together.  They began to question their purpose, and their influence upon others. And with their friend’s one-hundredth birthday celebration, they were touching upon their own mortality.  They were beginning to explore the difference they make in this world. 

As we welcomed a new year, along with it came a new awareness in our members.  Each week, more often than not, our discussions twisted and turned.  Often times I detected a restlessness in the women.  They were realizing they were entitled to their feelings, their thoughts, and dreams. But were they buried? Could they resurrect them at their ages?  One morning I gently asked the women what kind of aspirations they had held for themselves all of these years.  Quite simply, I posed the question, “If you could have done anything differently with your life, eliminating all barriers, what would it have been?”  A hush came over the room.  Their answers were astounding, and surprised me. 

As our Literary Circle ebbed and flowed, I witnessed it fulfill an astounding need in the older women.  At last, these women were free to discuss their innermost thoughts and opinions in an atmosphere of acceptance and encouragement.  Through literature, assimilations to their lives were made, and through our discussions, the women gained confidence as they learned to assert their opinions.  There were days when an idea was presented and it seemed as if their opinions were unleashed with a fervor.  No longer were these women second-class citizens, with inconsequential viewpoints, they were empowered women who have a voice and a new found confidence!

It is important to recognize the role literature has played in inspiring these older women to find their voices, and the significant benefits this has to our aging society.  Imagine the far-reaching social implications in America if the magic of literature were to be unleashed, with the availability to touch every older woman desiring of it!” 

New Literary Circles specifically designed for older adults are now being formed throughout the Denver metropolitan area. Interested seniors desiring to share their love of literature are encouraged to join a reading group in their neighborhood. Occasionally, there are hurdles to overcome as physical obstacles, such as low vision, necessitate adaptations.  Fortunately, an impressive range of assistive devices are available, including aids which enable an older adult to continue reading. Individuals requiring assistance with low vision needs are encouraged to participate. Mentors and volunteer leaders are also needed.  For more information on joining a Literary Circle or becoming a leader, please contact Lori Williamson, Director of Christian Living Communities – Adult Day Services.

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Author:     Lori Williamson     Director, Adult Day Services,

                                                 Christian Living Communities

Lori Williamson can be reached at (720) 974-3575

or Email: lwilliamson@clcmail.org

Christian Living Communities(CLC) is a not-for-profit provider of senior living communities and services.  It is a Colorado company which began in 1972 and owns five senior living communities in the southeast Denver and Centennial areas. It also provides home care services and has two adult day service locations. CLC touches the lives of more than 800 people on a daily basis with its continuum of care and services.