With the advancing age, the elderly often face many health-related challenges. Most are found complaining about their knee and foot pain leading to limited mobility. Therefore, to ease this discomfort, it is often recommended to choose comfortable slip-on sneakers for the elderly.
In this regard, slip on sneakers are the best choice while shoe shopping for yourself or your parents. But not to worry as in this article, the right features that should be looked for in the slip ons while shopping have been summarized.
Reasons behind Foot Pain as well as Swollen Feet in the Elderly
In older age, people often go through issues like the following which become the reason for aching and swollen feet:
● Corn
● Hammertoes
● Bunions
● Calluses
● Edema
● Gout
● Poor blood circulations
● Osteoarthritis
● Diabetic neuropathy
Tips to Choose the Best Slip-On Sneakers for the Elderly
Good slip-on sneakers for the elderly for casual wear should be selected based on the following properties:
1. Comfort over Everything Else
In many cases, foot problems come from the improper shoe which either does not have the right fit or is too trendy to be comfortable. Such products should be avoided for day-to-day use. Rather, slip-on sneakers for the elderly with roomy toe box and arch support should be chosen.
This way, feet do not get squished and foot injuries are effectively minimized. Such shoes are also comfortable for the elderly to move into as they are breathable and keep the feet cool.
2. Breathable Material
The material used to construct a shoe is very essential. Natural materials such as leather should be considered when choosing slip-on sneakers for the elderly. In addition, the material which has a meshy design also provides excellent breathability.
With these materials, the feet remain comfortable as the chances of sweating are very low. Moreover, the supply of a proper amount of air to the feet also prevents fungal growth which is promoted by sweating.
3. Slip Ons over Laces
Shoes that have laces are often hard to wear for the elderly as many cannot tie these by themselves. Also, if not properly fastened, these laces can get untied very easily and cause the wearer to trip badly.
These problems can be avoided by a simple change which demands the replacement of shoes with laces withslip-on sneakers for the elderly. These are much easier to put on and do not require much time and effort. However, some people often feel that slip on sneakers do not provide the needed fit.
There are several brands that make slip on sneakers. One should try several options before choosing a slip-on sneakers for the elderly that provide adequate arch support, a good foot shape, and a solid fit
4. Slip-Resistant Soles
Another common problem with many shoes is that they tend to slip very easily. If an elderly is wearing a shoe that has a sole more prone to slipping, the consequences can be quite massive. Therefore, slip-on sneakers for the elderly with slip-resistant soles should be chosen for them.
This can be done by looking for grooves or patterns on the shoe soles which make them more stable and give much extra grip.
Also, make sure that the sole is sticking just beyond the shoe edge. This way, the risk of accidental flip-over is eliminated.
5. Slip on Shoes with Spacious Contraction
Usually, people with narrow feet fit in most of the sneaker options available in the market. However, people who have broader foot structures often face difficulty in finding stylish shoes that are also roomy enough for them to stay comfortable.
Narrow structured shoes can cause pain in the toe and itchiness on the soles. Therefore, more adaptive shoes should be chosen for the elderly.
6. Easy-to-Clean Options
When a shoe is worn very often, it is likely to become dirty very soon. Therefore, one has to clean it frequently which is very difficult for the elderly.
To relieve this extra burden on them, such shoes should be chosen which do not stain very easily.
Another important factor is the color as white shoes are more prone to dirt and stains which become highly visible as compared to those in the darker colors.
Nowadays, a wide range of shoe cleaning supplies are also easily available in the market which could be purchased for cleaning the slip-on sneakers for the elderly with ease every once in a while.
7. Long-Lasting Support
A good slip on shoe must provide proper arch support to the feet. This support, however, should not be short-lived and end as soon as the user starts to wear the shoe regularly.
Adaptive shoes whose soles feel like cardboard after a few days of use do not offer proper support to the feet which is needed to avoid foot pain.
8. Durability
While making an investment in footwear, one wants those shoes to last for longer. Therefore, a good slip on shoe, apart from fulfilling all the above-mentioned criteria, should also serve the user for a justified period of time.
Therefore, walking shoes with good soles, ample space in the toe box, and rubber traction pads should be preferred over other options.
9. High Versatility
As good slip-on sneakers for the elderly are often more on the expensive side, a slip on shoe that has high versatility is everyone’s first choice. It should be pretty enough to be worn with almost every clothing item in your closet.
Nowadays, people, especially women, like to wear sneakers with every outfit from suits to skirts. Therefore, the item being purchased should be trendy and versatile apart from being comfortable.
10. Cost Efficiency
Apart from all the above-mentioned characteristics, slip-on sneakers for the elderly should also be cost-efficient. As people often prefer items that fit their needs and are also lighter on the pocket, a good product with a reasonable price is more likely to attract elderly consumers who are often on pensions or live off their savings. Therefore, one should look for a shoe that has the best features at an affordable price.
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Conclusion
Sneakers are one of the items that is in trend right now because almost everyone is wearing them. Not only are they pretty but also highly comfortable especially for the elderly males and females who keep facing issues with different shoe types.
Slip-on sneakers for the elderly provide such comfort to the user that people often opt for these whenever they are looking for a good footwear option. But among so many options, which one to choose becomes the real question. Therefore, the tips summarized in this article should be kept in mind while buying a shoe to avoid any purchases that you might regret in the future.
PhD Scholar (Pharmaceutics), MPhil (Pharmaceutics), Pharm D, B. Sc.
