Services
Aged Care Podiatry
Reviewed by Anureet Selach, Podiatrist · Australian Podiatry Association · Registered with AHPRA
Last updated
Staying on your feet is what keeps you independent, and ageing feet make that harder in ways that creep up gradually. Skin thins. Joints stiffen. Muscles weaken. Healing takes longer. Reaching your own toenails stops being straightforward.
None of that is dramatic on any given day, and all of it adds up to a fall risk.
What changes with age
Alongside the natural changes, conditions that become more common — diabetes, arthritis, reduced circulation — each add their own foot problems.
The things that come up most:
- Progressively flatter feet, and plantar fasciitis
- Achilles tendon irritation
- Arthritic joints through the foot and ankle
- Corns, callus and thickened toenails
- Dry, cracking skin
- Diabetic foot care and ulcer prevention
- Fungal nail infections
- Bunions and toe deformities
- Knee, hip or lower back pain traced back to unstable feet
The approach
Older feet need more time and a gentler hand, and appointments are set up that way.
Your podiatrist will assess the foot and lower limb to find what’s actually driving the problem, then work through:
- Careful nail trimming, and removal of corns and callus
- Skin care for dryness and cracking
- Orthotics chosen for comfort where a device is warranted
- Balance and strength exercises pitched at what you can actually do
- Footwear advice, with stability and safety as the priority
- Monitoring for circulatory and diabetic changes
Why nail and skin care isn’t cosmetic
A thickened nail that presses into the toe changes how you walk. Callus builds where pressure is highest, and under callus is where a pressure ulcer starts. A crack in dry heel skin is an entry point for infection on a foot that heals slowly.
Routine care, every six to twelve weeks for most people, is preventative treatment rather than maintenance.
Getting here, and getting it paid for
Street parking is directly out front on Melville Road, and the tram stops nearby. See contact for directions and parking detail.
For funding, there are three common routes and reception can help you work out which applies:
- A GP chronic disease management plan, for a Medicare rebate on up to five allied health visits a year — see Medicare rebates
- A Support at Home package, where podiatry is commonly included and your provider authorises it in writing
- Private health extras, claimed on the spot through HICAPS
Frequently asked questions
How often should older feet be checked?
Every six to twelve weeks suits most people for routine nail and skin care, and that interval is set by how quickly nails grow and how well skin holds up rather than by age. Diabetes, poor circulation or a history of ulceration usually means more often.
Can I claim through my home care package?
Podiatry is commonly included in a Support at Home package. Your provider needs to authorise it in writing before the appointment, and the arrangement is between you, your provider and the clinic — bring your provider's details to the first visit and reception will sort out the paperwork.
Does Medicare cover it?
If your GP prepares a chronic disease management plan, Medicare rebates up to five allied health visits a year across all providers combined, item 10962 for podiatry, currently $63.40 back. See the Medicare rebate page.
I can't reach my toenails any more. Is that worth an appointment?
Yes, and it's one of the most common reasons people come in. Nails that can't be cut safely get thick, catch on things, and press into the skin. It's a small, comfortable appointment that prevents a genuinely painful problem.
Is the clinic accessible?
The clinic is at 2/66 Melville Road, Brunswick West, with street parking directly out front. Call ahead if you have specific mobility needs and reception can make sure the right room and enough time are set aside.
Ready to book?
Appointments Monday to Saturday, with confirmation by SMS.