Footwear is the most important clothing item for senior citizens and baby boomers, at least in terms of our comfort and our health. We may focus on a tailer-made suit or custom-fitted gown for a special occasion, or even shop carefully (and with a fashion consciousness) for our work outfits or our leisure apparel. However, footwear is our only clothing item that impacts the earth's surface, unless our slacks or jeans are way too long.

Our blazers, or our shirts and blouses, need not absorb the small but steady jolts of 8,000 to 10,000 steps per day. This why we must treat the feet, first and foremost, starting with a proper fit for our footwear. Three-quarters of senior citizens and baby boomers, at some point in our lives, will encounter foot pain. For those fortunate among us, foot pain will come and go. For others, foot pain is persistent.

The first thing we can do is to make sure our shoes fit, and guess what? Instead of just dispersing this general advice, we're going to give you a few original tips that may not have crossed your mind:

1. Check your shoe size later in the day, because feet can swell as the day goes on.
2. Check the sizes of both feet. Through the years, one may have become larger or wider than the other.
3. Keep in mind that even on a dress shoe, a lace-up style offers more ability to adjust for better comfort and support.
4. Walk on carpet, not just a hard surface, to determine whether your shoes fit properly. Carpeting provides a different experience than a wood or tile floor.
5. Finally, make sure you can wiggle all of your toes up in those new shoes, not just the big ones.

Look at it this way: If a fellow's pants are hitched too high, he looks like a doofus. If a fellow's shoes don't fit right, he walks like a doofus. The difference in the second scenario is that physical pain and health issues come into play. Don't be a shoe-fit doofus!

SOURCES
http://seniorjournal.com/NEWS/Aging/2007/7-04-12-PainFree.htm
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/foot-pain/MY00082
http://www.foot-specialist.com/foot-pain.htm

When it comes to footwear, seniors and baby boomers have various viewpoints. Consider the example of high-heeled shoes for women. The older a woman gets, the more difficult is the challenge of donning high-heeled footwear. Yet senior women tend to be more traditional and may maintain a desire to wear high heels to church or on formal occasions.

Fashion experts, as a general rule, define high-heel footwear as shoes with an elevation of more than 3.5 inches. If it's "only" 3 inches, it's "just" a mid-heel. Go ahead and groan, ladies. The fashion experts setting these strict high-heel standards, of course, are men such as Maurizio and Paolo Gucci, and Jimmy Choo.

Who in the world invented high heels in the first place? One version is that the first wearers of high heels were men. As the Dark Ages gave way to the Renaissance so many moons ago, one great revelation among the fellas on horseback was that heels would help prevent their boots from slipping out of their stirrups. This can't be proven, however, not even on the History Channel.

Which ethnic group of women first started to get all fashionable with their footwear, progressing (or regressing, if that's your view) to higher and higher heels? Wouldn't you know it, the French and the Italians were in the lead roles. In fact, there may have been a sort of a combo trend sparked in 1533 by Catherine de' Medici. She was Queen of France, although she was of Italian stock, and she was really, really short. Therefore, legend has it, Catherine de' Medici had a chat with her cobbler. The rest is history, or rather, herstory.

Podiatrists tell women that if they must wear high heels, they should try to reserve this footwear for special occasions, not for daily work in the office. High heels add stress not only to a woman's feet, but also to the knees. Furthermore, the height of the heel isn't the only concern. Some high-heel shoe styles also smash the toes together, which isn't healthy either. Still, a quality high-heel shoe also can provide comfort...as long as not much walking is on the agenda.

SOURCES
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-heeled_footwear
http://www.randomhistory.com/1-50/036heels.html

When buying shoes, senior citizens and baby boomers may consider this: The average adult takes about 4,000 steps per day, according to new-lifestyles.com. This doesn't include any special workouts, but just the regular walking throughout the day. Those 4,000 steps add up to about 2 daily miles.

Keep our footwear in mind, seniors and boomers, as we discuss this. Every two weeks, we're walking more than the equivalent of a marathon run, just by going to the supermarket or strolling into the nearest coffee shop for a latte. Every four years, we're walking the equivalent of a pilgrimage from New York City to San Francisco. (That's 2,930 miles, folks.)

Shouldn't our footwear be comfortable? Shouldn't our shoes fit just right? As much as we consider ourselves to be ageless, we seniors and boomers should recognize that our feet may have special needs.

We shouldn't be thin-skinned about owning up to these special needs for buying shoes. In fact, one result of aging is that we may notice that the skin on our feet is thinner than we once remember. Fatty cushions on the balls of our feet and the pads of our toes have decreased. This thinner skin makes us more susceptible to bumps and bruises, blisters and scrapes. If we have diabetes, we are even more vulnerable because of reduced circulation in our lower extremities. This means that we not only need to make sure that our shoes have an ideal fit, but we also need to take a look now and then to make sure that ulcers or infections and ingrown toenails are not developing.

Meanwhile, our feet are going to get longer and wider, and they may not necessarily do so at the same time. We may discover, oddly enough, that our best comfort comes from a Size 9 on one foot and a Size 8 on another, or maybe a one-half size as an alternative. It might seem like a financial pain to buy two pairs of shoes for one pair of feet, but wouldn't the resulting comfort be worth our while? After all, we have miles more to walk before we sleep.

SOURCES

http://www.new-lifestyles.com/quizzes.html

http://www.healthleader.uthouston.edu/archive/ORTHOPEDIC/2003/feetdontfailme-0811.html

http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=how+many+miles+new+york+city+to+san+francisco%3F&ygmabtsrchbtn=web+search&fr=ush-mail-bt4

http://www.affsphere.com/Fashion-and-Apparel/Shoes/Foot-Care-for-Senior-Citizens-1.html

http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/shoeshopping-with-polio-or-clubfoot-766720.html

http://www.seniorwomen.com/hfstyle.html

Footwear for senior citizens and baby boomers should provide comfort and fashion, and even fun. But if we want to feel good about our footwear, our feet need to feel good. We sometimes think of senior citizens and baby boomers developing arthritis and rheumatism in fingers and other upper joints, but everything starts with the feet, and that includes the footwear. According to a survey reported by the National Institute on Aging, 87 percent of older adults report at least one foot problem.

Let's tackle these senior/boomer footwear concerns with a positive approach. The fellows still can go for luxurious leather dress shoes if they so desire. The ladies still can purchase that special pair of ballroom dancing shoes. We just have to take care of our feet.

First of all, keep that blood circulating. Put your feet up whenever you can. Not only do you deserve this comfort, but it's good for you. Rub the feet of a partner, then have them rub yours. Make warm foot baths part of your routine. And if we need yet another argument against smoking, it turns out that smoking impairs blood circulation, so yes indeed, smoking can even be harmful to your feet. (So can constantly crossing your legs.)

When fitting for your shoes, don't rely on what may have become your former size. Aging causes the feet of senior citizens and baby boomers to become longer, wider, flatter and thinner. We may become aware of various parts of our bodies that start to sag, but rarely do we consider that our foot arches may sag, too. Therefore, we need our shoes to fit in a comfortable and snug manner that begins with the first time we put them on.

Our feet may be the appendages that are most physically distant from our brains, but often our feet are trying to tell us something. For example, feet that often feel sort of tingly may be warning us to seek a check-up for nerve and circulatory disorders, or possibly even diabetes. When doctors check our hearts and so forth, we should ask that they check our feet as well. Then we should consider treating ourselves to a fantastic pair of new shoes.

SOURCES:
http://www.seniorjournal.com/NEWS/Aging/2007/7-04-12-PainFree.htm
http://www.niapublications.org/agepages/footcare.asp
http://www.apma.org
http://www.aofas.org

Being comfortable is a priority when it comes to quality of life, and one of the key comforts is foot care and comfortable shoes. Each foot type has its own little quirks, which may require additional support not normally provided by a fashion shoe or work shoe. One of the top ways to prevent further damage to the feet is by taking advantage of the necessary orthopedic support alternatives, which are a great way to provide the added support and cushioning needed.

When looking for orthopedic support alternatives there are several great brands from which to select such as Spenco, Sof Sole, Sorbothane, Aetrex and others. There are several foot conditions such as over pronators, under pronators, low arch conditions, high arch conditions and others, all of which may require the need for orthopedic support alternatives.

In the case of Spenco insoles, these are ideal for even pressure distribution and can even be heat molded for a perfect fit. This particular pair of support alternatives is made specifically for individuals with diabetes. The Spenco insoles cost an average of $44 a pair.

For the male with a medium arch looking for orthopedic support alternatives an excellent choice is the Men's Aetrex Medium Arch Orthotic Insole. These are the perfect choice for a daily shoe as the unique support is made with a patented gel system that has specific gel support locations unique to the arch type. This is a great choice for providing stability, balance and excellent support. The Aetrex Orthotic Support retails for approximately $45.

If you're looking for the ultimate support alternative for the high performance person, a great choice is the Sof Sole Orthotic Insole. These insoles are designed specifically for strenuous activity while providing excellent protection for the foot that needs a little extra support. The Sof Sole Insoles are great for individuals suffering with foot pain who need maximum support. One of the key features of the Sof Sole Insoles support alternatives is that they are also moldable to provide an exact fit, ultimately providing a more comfortable fit. Sof Soles insoles retail for approximately $46.

Whether having wide feet is genetic or a result of standing on one's feet for years prior to taking early retirement as a baby boomer, there are now a wide selection of great looking shoes made specifically for the individual with wide feet. The selection of casual shoes, heels, athletic shoes and boots are not only available in sizes for wide feet but also in a wide variety of styles, colors and sizes.

Shoes for wide feet are no longer made in a single style. In fact, there is a wide variety of attractive and flattering shoes for all occasions and activities that are certain to be a great fit for individuals with wide feet. For the baby boomer woman looking for a sharp dress shoe for wide feet, there is an excellent collection available from Fitzwell and Gabriela Rocha. The collection offers a wide variety of pointed-toed high heels with an average heel height of 2 ¾ inches. The attractively designed shoes from Fitzwell are available in a variety of textures including gray suede, dark brown suede, gunmetal kid and black and range from $54 up to approximately $65 per pair.

For those looking for boots to fit wide feet, there are several brands that offer a variety of styles including Fitzwell and Lassen. Fitzwell makes a beautiful boot for wide feet that is available in black or brown and is made with a square toe, genuine leather upper and a 2-inch heel. This is a boot that one can wear throughout the fall and winter and is designed to be comfortable for wide feet. The retail price is approximately $57. The Lassen Beacon style boot is also a fashionable boot designed for individuals with wide feet. The ¾ length boot is available in a variety of colors for $75 per pair.

Finding a fashionable shoe designed for wide feet adds a lot of versatility to one's wardrobe as well as one's fashion look. There is a wide variety of shoes of all styles and heel heights made specifically with wide feet in mind, many of which are comfortable and affordable.

Baby boomers that have chosen to retire early are learning to relax all over again and enjoy the comforts of home. The days of two and three piece suits now take a back seat to being comfortable while home in loungewear. This shift in lifestyle, however, requires that one revamp his or her clothing apparel and go for something much more comfortable. In fact, after years of mad dashes to the office and airport for meetings and business trips, it requires a little bit of help to key down the energy and enjoy being comfortable while home in loungewear.

One of the best ways to change one's mindset is to change habits and train the brain all over again. Many innovative and proactive early retirees are working from home, which allows them to wear loungewear and even pajamas while working. Why not opt for some of the most comfortable, quality loungewear on the market. Pine Cone Hill Sleepwear for women offers an excellent line of comfortable and quality pajamas that are ideal for being comfortable while home in loungewear. Available in a wide variety of patterns and colors, the pajamas are made of 100-percent cotton and are even great gift items. The cozy, comfortable, brushed, cotton pajamas retail for about $64 per pair.

For the male baby boomer that chooses to either work from home or simply enjoys being comfortable while home in loungewear, BedHead has a great line of pajamas that are comfortable and quality-made. The high end pajamas are a great personal indulgence or a gift item for Christmas, Father's Day or other special occasions. The beautiful and well-tailored pajamas are made from luxurious 100-percent Egyptian cotton and are as masculine as they are luxurious. Definitely a great choice of clothing items for being comfortable while home in loungewear, the BedHead Pajamas are available in a variety of striped patterns for approximately $144 per pair and are a celebrity favorite. Forget the jeans and the sweats and go for the loungewear.

Baby boomers are moving into a new era in their lives where the demands are not the same or, in most cases, have been or need to be revised. The days of stilettos or the most popular shoes may be gone or may be worn more sparingly. It is more about comfort and maintaining good foot health. More baby boomers are taking preventative measures to avoid arthritis of the ankles and foot area, be it in a conservative manner or otherwise. This includes conforming to wearing the proper shoes that promote good foot health.

Many baby boomer women have, in the past, worn shoes for looks that may have caused damage to the feet due to pinching, improper sizing or the pushing down of the foot into pointed toed shoes in an extremely high heel. Men, on the other hand, may have worn shoes that were improperly fitted or possibly a shoe that simply was not ideal for the foot.

When considering foot health, baby boomers are more opt to consider comfort over style, though it is possible to have both. There are many options today for comfortable shoes that prevent injuries and promote foot health. There are multiple styles of shoes made by New Balance, Nike, Asics and many others that market shoes that look like basic active wear shoes or oxfords that are certainly accepted in a corporate environment yet provide the necessary support and balance to maintain good foot health.

The baby boomer generation, known as the "Me Generation," is an aggressive generation that will use their health coverage to ensure they are well taken care of, and boomers will make modifications and life style changes to ensure they have good foot health.

When times change, accepting new practices in one's lifestyle may take a little time, however being comfortable is important to all generations. With the many lines of fine active wear shoes that are on the market, comfort and style don't have to be compromised. The baby boomers may however be the leaders of the pack for future generations to show them that being cool doesn't mean giving up comfort and good foot health.