Assessment of Geriatric Patients' Feet Condition and Self-care and the Relationship with the Risk of Falls from a Nurse's Perspective

Abstract

Relevance of the study: the rapid aging of the population around the world is leading to the spread of foot-related problems, which is becoming a growing health problem for the elderly. Approximately one in three people over the age of 65 is found to experience foot pain, and one in seven older people experience difficulties when nail clipping. Older people have an increased need for foot care. Study problem: geriatric patient’s condition of the feet is poor, self-care is inadequate which is associated with a higher risk of falls. The object of the study: geriatric patient’s feet condition and self-care. The aim of the study: assess the geriatric patient’s feet condition and self-care and the relationship with the risk of falls from a nurse’s perspective. The objectives: Analize the scientific literature and legal documents related to foot care in Lithuania. Determine the feet state of condition of geriatric patients. Reveal the situation of self-care of geriatric patients. Determine the relationship between feet state of condition and the risk of falls. Research methods: data (scientific, legal literature) collection and analysis (quantitative survey) methods were used. Questionnaire survey and diagnostic examination were used for data collection, and descriptive statistics calculations were used for data analysis. Assume of the respondents: 100 respondents over 60 years of age. Results of the study: it has been analyzed that in Lithuania foot care services in the personal health care system are provided by diabetologists (for people with diabetes and those with foot problems) and nursing assistants (who perform hygienic care of the skin and its accessories in inpatient treatment institutions). In all cases, except for people with diabetes, foot care is paid for. A cosmetologist and a beautician have the right to perform foot care only on healthy feet and nails. After determining the condition of the feet of geriatric patients, the following foot problems are most often identified: hardened nails, nails that are difficult to cut, nails that are too long, changed color, shape, nails that have crumbled, and the skin of the feet is dry. All of the listed symptoms of foot problems were found in more than half of the respondents. The situation of self-care of geriatric patients has been revealed: slightly less than half of the respondents can take off / put on socks and shoes without assistance; slightly more than a third of the respondents struggle to cut their toenails without assistance, and a ninth of respondents cannot cut their nails without assistance; half of the respondents experience pain in the foot area. After looking into the relationship between the condition of the feet and the risk of falls, it was determined that among the respondents with a lower risk of falls, there were significantly more people who indicated that they can take off / put on socks and shoes without assistance, cut their nails, and get help cutting nails compared to respondents at higher risk of falls.