DB Wider Fit Shoes, a specialist retailer of wider-fitting shoes is urging people aged over 60 to pay closer attention to the footwear they choose, amid growing concern over the number of falls occurring among older adults across the UK.
Ambulance crews are called out for fall-related incidents involving over-65s in roughly one in four cases, and the number of hospital admissions within that age group climbed by over 25% in the ten years prior to 2020.
Figures from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence show that approximately 30% of those aged over 65 and half of those over 80 experience at least one fall per year. Falls also represent the leading cause of injury-related fatalities in people over the age of 65 in the UK.
Charles Denton for DB Wider Fit Shoes said: “Falls can have many different causes, from balance issues to ageing, but footwear is often overlooked as part of the conversation.”
He went on to add: “Poorly fitting shoes or footwear without proper support can affect stability and increase the risk of trips. Shoes that fit properly, with secure fastenings and good grip, can help people feel steadier and more confident on their feet, particularly those managing conditions such as arthritis or neuropathy.”
One woman in her 70s, named Ann, is now speaking out about her own experience in the hope that others will take their footwear more seriously, following a fall that resulted in a hospital stay and prompted her to reassess what she was putting on her feet.
Ann lives with Peripheral Neuropathy, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis. Peripheral Neuropathy can reduce feeling in the feet, while arthritis affects joints and stability. Together, these conditions can increase the risk of losing balance.
After a fall from her previous shoes, which left her in the hospital, Ann is now wearing comfortable shoes, which are making a difference.
“Put those three conditions together, and it doesn’t do your feet any good,” she said. After discussing her situation with her podiatrist, who suggested she try a wider-fitting, more supportive shoe, Ann decided it was time to change her footwear.
Since changing her footwear, Ann says she noticed a difference almost immediately. She is back to doing the things she enjoys most, including spending time in her garden and taking her dog for walks.
The spokesperson added: “Ann’s experience highlights the importance of supportive, well-fitting footwear, particularly for people managing conditions that affect balance or stability as they get older.”
