Reaching out to diabetic soles: Outreach foot care pilot project.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effectiveness of outreach foot care services as a tool for engagement with isolated vulnerable seniors. To improve foot health of diabetic seniors, thus avoiding expensive and potentially life-threatening diabetic complications.

METHODS

Four validated tools are used to gather data: InLow 60-second Diabetic Foot Screen©, Short Diabetes Knowledge Instrument for Older and Minority Adults, Brief Healthcare Questionnaire (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), and the Health-Related Quality of Life Questionnaire.

RESULTS

Five monthly visits to 20 participants resulted in multiple co-morbidities being identified, improvements in foot status and diabetic knowledge realized, and determinants of health addressed. Seniors needed support and resources to engage in diabetes self-management.

CONCLUSION

The importance of regular foot care as a key element of any self-management plan for diabetes cannot be understated, nor can increasing social services spending to include coverage for foot care thereby avoiding expensive healthcare. Using foot care as a tool for engagement conferred access to vulnerable seniors who ultimately benefited from healthcare and social interactions with a provider.