If We Treated Feet Like Faces: A Satirical Look at How We Ignore the Most Important Part of Aging
- jenna624
- 17 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Jenna Fralick, BScN RN
The $200 Face Cream vs. The Forgotten Feet
Let’s play a game:
Imagine if we cared for our feet the way we care for our faces.
We’d start each morning by gently cleansing our toes, patting them dry with a plush towel, and smoothing on a custom-formulated foot serum with anti-aging peptides. By lunch, we’d reapply our SPF-50 toe cream and at night, we’d sit under a $300 LED light mask… for our heels.
Sounds ridiculous, right?
And yet, we do all of that for our faces—while feet, the very foundation of independence, mobility, and balance, go ignored.
For many aging adults and persons living with disabilities, the lack of proper foot care in Nova Scotia is not just a cosmetic oversight—it’s a health crisis.
The Foot-Face Double Standard: What It Reveals
We live in a world where there are:
Entire skincare aisles for forehead wrinkles
YouTube influencers teaching 12-step face routines
High-end serums for puffiness, pigmentation, and pores
But what about:
That throbbing ingrown toenail?
The cracked heel that bleeds in winter?
The corn pressing against a shoe for six months straight?
Crickets.
When a face shows age, we call it “graceful.”When feet need care, we call it “gross.”
It’s no surprise people feel embarrassed to talk about foot care—even with their families. And yet, for seniors, caregivers, and people with diabetes or mobility issues, neglected feet can lead to falls, infections, and hospitalization.
What Happens When You Ignore Foot Care?
This isn’t about pedicures. This is about healthcare.
Neglected foot health can cause:
Painful overgrown toenails that cut into skin
Balance issues due to corns, bunions, or thick calluses
Open wounds that can become infected
Loss of independence (because walking hurts)
Increased fall risk—especially for seniors
A Canadian study by O’Rourke and George (2022) found that seniors who received regular foot care were 44% less likely to report a fall in the previous 6 months.
And still… we moisturize our elbows and forget our feet.
Foot Care Isn’t Pretty—But It Is Powerful
Here’s what real foot care in Bedford looks like at our clinic:
A woman with diabetes walks without pain for the first time in weeks.
A caregiver weeps with relief after learning she no longer needs to trim her dad’s thick, curling nails.
A client with limited mobility has a corn removed that had been affecting her gait for months.
This is the power of nursing-led foot care. And it’s available right here in Bedford.
Why RWHC Launched the Advanced Foot Care Clinic in Bedford
At Remember When HealthCare, we listened to our clients—many of whom were struggling with long waitlists, uncertainty, and shame around foot health.
So we created something different:
📍 The Advanced Foot Care Clinic at 38 Ella Lane, Suite 204, Bedford NS
Staffed by licensed foot care nurses, we offer:
Toenail trimming and reduction
Diabetic foot care and monitoring
Corn and callus removal
Ingrown toenail care
Education and prevention
✅ Book now for September appointments:➡️ www.rwhc.janeapp.com
📞 Or call us at 902-497-0722 for more information or in-home bookings.
Who Needs Foot Care? (Hint: More People Than You Think)
Foot care isn’t just for seniors.We serve:
Persons with disabilities who can’t reach or feel their feet
Clients with diabetes at risk for ulcers
Caregivers overwhelmed with trying to manage foot issues at home
People post-surgery or recovering from illness
Anyone noticing changes in gait, pain, or nail health
And yes—men need it too. One client said:
“I felt silly booking a foot care appointment. But now I can walk to my car without wincing.”
You don’t have to suffer. And you’re not alone.
If Feet Had Instagram Accounts…
What would happen if our feet got the attention our faces do?
👣 “Just did a 10-step callus routine! #FootGlow”
👣 “He said he loved me, but he didn’t exfoliate my heels.”
👣 “This little piggy went to the spa—and came back fungus-free.”
We laugh—but behind the joke is a truth: Feet carry us every day. Yet we don’t look after them until they scream for help.
Aging in Place Starts at the Ground
Here’s what we know at RWHC:
Falls often begin with foot pain.
Avoidance of movement often begins with shame.
Hospital visits often begin with a wound no one saw coming.
Foot care isn’t vanity—it’s protection. It’s dignity.It’s independence.
Whether in clinic or in the comfort of your home, our foot nurses provide non-judgmental, skilled, and compassionate care to help you (or your loved one) stay active, safe, and pain-free.
Let’s Give Feet the Respect They Deserve
✅ Learn more about foot care services in Bedford:
📍 Advanced Foot Care Clinic: 38 Ella Lane, Suite 204, Bedford, NS
🗓 Now accepting September bookings
📞 In-home visits available by phone: 902-497-0722
References
O’Rourke, K., & George, A. (2022). Preventing falls through foot health in older adults. Canadian Journal on Aging, 41(1), 33–45. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0714980821000443
Canadian Nurses Association. (2021). Advanced nursing foot care guidelines. https://www.cna-aiic.ca
Wounds Canada. (2023). Foot care and diabetic wound prevention in community health. https://www.woundscanada.ca
Comments