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FootCare
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toes are part of the body’s ‘seeing’ system for position- ing itself in space, so the healthier the feet and toes are, the less likely an older person will fall.
“It’s just preventable with good foot care, good foot function, knowledge about how shoes fit. I start- ed pulling the pieces together — what was behind everything we were doing. And we keep evolving the science.”
And as age demographics in the U.S. keep trend- ing older, it’s a growing problem, especially among the Baby Boom generation.
“They need help — not just care at a podiatry
office or a nail salon; they’re going to need this help at home because many can’t drive, or they’re cognitively impaired, or frail. They need to stay home and have care come to them,” she explained. “So the business model was not working with one visiting nurse associ- ation or one long-term-care facility — we would work with many, and I would work regionally.”
Next Steps
And the practice is still growing. Clayton-Jones
— who regularly speaks on foot-care issues nation- ally and around the world — recently announced that three new contracts will allow FootCare by Nurses to expand its services in Central Mass., the city of Springfield, and some towns in Connecticut.
A contract with the Program of All-Inclusive Care (PACE) in Springfield will allow Serenity Care case workers to refer clients to FootCare by Nurses. The PACE program is centered on the core belief that, given a choice, most elders, the disabled, and their families would choose to receive care in their homes
“Our mission is prevention, and our passion is caring. Feet are literally the foundation for our body; they allow us to be mobile, they pump blood back to our hearts, and they connect us to the world.”
and communities rather than in a nursing home — so it meshes well with Clayton-Jones’s own mission.
Meanwhile, a contract with Tri Valley Elder Ser- vices will expand FootCare by Nurses’ services into the area south of Worcester. Additionally, FootCare by Nurses will take on former clients of Connecticut- based Pedi-care.
“This expansion and continued growth means add- ing close to 1,000 new clients and $300,000 in new revenue, which will trickle in slowly as referrals for foot care come in,” she said, adding that she plans to add two administrative positions and 10 nursing posi- tions — and is actively hiring for them.
“At the end of the day, if you want a meaningful nursing career, this is just an excellent place. If you’re community-minded, if you like one-on-one conversa- tions where you can make a huge difference, this is really a good career,” she said. “My nurses speak of it as the most joyous job they’ve ever had. They thank me for the autonomy and responsibility, and they get to use all their nursing skills. And they feel connected to the community that they live in, supporting other people.”
As the company grows, its mission — to redefine elder care by making evidence-based foot care central to general health — will not change, she added.
“Our mission is prevention, and our passion is car- ing. Feet are literally the foundation for our body; they allow us to be mobile, they pump blood back to our hearts, and they connect us to the world. Any fault in feet affects the whole body, just like faults in a founda- tion affect the entire structure. Yet, feet are too often ignored or neglected, while their care and well-being are essential.”
In short, Clayton-Jones stressed, FootCare by Nurs- es is not an aesthetic service that simply makes feet and toes more presentable.
“These people need nursing care; it’s a nationwide problem. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen nail polish glossing over toenail fungus or a callus or corn, and it continues to perpetuate because no one’s done preventive education,” she said.
“Nurses are educators. We teach people how to take their medications, what the side effects are ... a lot of people recognize we’re the healthcare teachers out there. Our mission is prevention. Yes, we’re great at taking care of toenails, but we’re also there to pre- vent falls or wounds from happening — and we save lives.” BW
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