Footcare guidance

4. Models for Personal Footcare

It is recognised that in the majority of cases personal footcare can be undertaken safely by individuals themselves, family members or by care providers and care staff.

However some individuals who are unable to manage their own personal footcare needs, may be able to access support for personal footcare to help maintain their foot health in variety of ways:

• They may be able to access affordable personal footcare services from charitable organisations or other agencies in their areas. Through a partnership approach, a number of Health and Social Care Partnerships, supported and developed foot care provision initiatives. Further advice is available on NHS Inform, including information for each Health Board, at this link: How to access MSK services | NHS inform.
• They may choose to access private podiatry or footcare services in their area who often offer toenail cutting service at reduced costs.
• They may be able to claim for an attendance allowance and use the funds to pay for personal footcare (see section 3 for information on attendance allowance).

What models of good practice are available?

A range of models of personal footcare support have emerged across Scotland.

All the models have benefits and advantages that would support the gap in the current support for individuals to self care and the provision of personal footcare for others. A range of models are described in Appendix 2, highlighting examples of good practice from across Scotland.

What else might you do when you lose the ability to care for your own feet?

The LifeCurve™ is an online questionnaire developed by ADL Smartcare, based on continuing research at Newcastle University. ^{[22]. [23]} (Professor Gore and colleagues). The research suggests that as part of the ageing process, we lose our ability to carry out everyday activities in a set order. An early indication of functional decline is losing the ability to cut your own toenails. With simple changes to our routines and lifestyles, we can control how well we age and stay in control for longer.

* Please note that the term LifeCurve™ is the trademark of ADL Smartcare Limited. All rights reserved.

View the LifeCurve explainer video on YouTube