Sometimes elderly need help with foot care (01/21/08)

This little piggy went to market. This little piggy stayed home. All Mom's little piggies got the princess treatment and my little piggies got none.

I happened to talk to an old friend recently and she told me about her grandfather. It seems he had been having trouble walking. She thought it was mostly due to inactivity and offered to help him on with his shoes if he would sit outside with her. This was before the temperatures dropped into the single digits.

When she removed his slippers she was horrified to realize that his toenails had grown so long that they had curled around and were poking into the bottoms of his toes. Plus his feet were an alarming shade of black.

Being a woman of action, she first thought she would drive him to the emergency room but soon realized that the front steps were a major problem. She called the experts and had him taken to the emergency room by ambulance. Four hours later he was admitted to the hospital. They discovered a problem with his spine that was causing his foot problems. Oh, yes, they also trimmed his toenails. He is now in rehab, learning to walk again.

My friend's story reminded me that it had been awhile since I had attended to Mom's tootsies. So I added that to my to-do list.

Sunday I loaded up my car with various lotions and potions and took off to do my daughterly duty. We visited and traded photographs before I unearthed the footbath my brother had gotten for her several years ago. I filled it with warm water that she declared was too hot and left her feet to soak while I cleaned house.

When I had enough of cleaning, I got out the sugar scrub and proceeded to apply it to her feet. As I was working it between her toes it reminded me of washing baby feet. Baby feet are always so soft and plump.

She remarked that the stuff smelled like lemon pie. I thought it smelled more like furniture polish. The phone rang and she was soon chatting happily with one of her many friends. For a woman who rarely leaves the house she sure does have a lot of friends.

As I rinsed the sugar scrub off I thought of all the stories about Jesus washing feet. The Jesus story is meant to show that He was humble. I didn't feel the least bit humble. I felt honored that she would let me do this for her. I considered it a privilege that she let me take care of her, even if it was just to do her feet. Besides, I relished the delight in her voice when she told her friend that I was giving her a pedicure.

I knew that it was difficult for her reach her feet to do this herself but I wasn't prepared for the awful condition of her toes. It reminded me of every nail fungus ad I had ever seen. It didn't help that she persisted in yelping, "Ow!" every time I raised the clippers. I was terrified that I was trimming her nails too short. Thank goodness she was just teasing.

I finally finished and was stroking cherry scented lotion on her feet and up to her knees. My first thought was that now she would smell like a fruit salad or at least like cherries and lemons. Then I was transported back in time to all the nights she rubbed my knees when I was a child because they hurt so bad they made me cry. She always said it was growing pains. I can still feel how soothing her hands were. I hoped that my hands felt as good to her as hers had to me.

It was such a simple thing to do and yet it made her day and mine too. I felt like I was repaying her for being there when I needed her. It was a way to show her how much I appreciate her being my mother. It was a way to show her that I love her.

There are so many older people who aren't as limber as they used to be. I wonder who takes care of their feet? In the case of my friend's grandfather it is apparent that nobody does. Maybe senior services should offer house calls for pedicures. They could call it, "Have clippers; will travel." Until then, I will pamper all my mother's little piggies myself.

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