Foot health and amputation prevention programs are extremely important to implement and manage properly in a long-term care facility due to the fact that as many as one in four nursing home residents are diabetic.  Read this McKnight’s Long-Term Care News Guest Column by Dr. Mark Hinkes who is chief of podiatry and director of podiatric medical education at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Tennessee Valley Healthcare System and author of  “Keep The Legs You Stand On”  to learn more.

Older adults in nursing homes and long-term care facilities often have multiple health problems. With medical advances in the treatment of diabetes, aging Americans are living longer with the disease. In fact, as many as one in four nursing home residents has diabetes.

Foot health and amputation prevention programs for geriatric patients with diabetes are crucial to allowing the elderly to remain functional and independent. Patients with healthy feet can continue to walk and exercise. With proper foot care, falls and fractures can often be prevented.

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