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My mother thinks her shoes never fit correctly. She needs something safe and comfortable to walk in. Her foot is so much wider. She always wore a 6.5, but I don’t know where to begin now.


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My dad loves sketchers.

They spent a good deal of time sizing his feet and helping him find shoes that felt solid and comfy. Shoes should be replaced every 3 months, so buy a couple when you find ones that work.
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SAS have great shoes for seniors in different widths. Also New Balance walking shoes. With Velcro! See if there is a Comfort shoe independent shoe store that caters to that niche clientele. The shoes at the podiatrist office were costly. SAS aren’t cheap but somewhat more reasonably priced. We have several around here in Metro DC area. (Comfort One in Alexandria VA for instance).

Someone needs to measure her feet correctly with the old fashioned Brannock device( looked the old days). I have seen more of these specialty shoes stores pop up in the last 2 years. I recently found a diabetic shoe store as well as other type of footwear owned by 2 podiatrists attached to their practice & they have a salesperson who helps the patient chose the shoe the podiatrist ordered right in the same office space. It looks like a cute little shoe store.
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Ahmijoy Aug 2019
I second SAS! They aren’t cheap! If you go to one of their stores, they will fit you according to your lifestyle. When I could afford them, I wore nothing else!
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The Good Feet Store is great if there is one near you. SAS also has outlet mall stores which are somewhat less expensive.
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Mom's feet have changed so much as far back as probably ten years. I even gave her money to get custom made shoes but she went to casino with it instead! She swells so size in morning is much different that in afternoon. She takes water pills but still swells. Now when we do get her to go out which is not often, she wears Echo leather sandals with three straps that velcro over the top of foot and we adjust them as needed. This works most of the time but not if rainy, but she wouldn't go out in the rain anyway now I know.
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judyberryman Aug 2019
Thank you!
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I agree sketchers are flexible to get on easily, the tread on the soles is great and they are not expensive. I buy them on line for Dad and me. Soft uppers and very good insoles on the women’s-soft
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judyberryman Aug 2019
Thank you!
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Thanks, I did not know that.
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I love sketchers.  She needs to try them when her feet are swollen, to be sure they can be loosened.  My feet take Wide, and some stores no longer sell them, or say they are wide, but are not.
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Sendhelp Aug 2019
Yes Grannie Annie, I had the same problem when they "say" they are wide,
and even at Macy's. they were NOT!
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Conflicted here.
I never found sketchers in wide.
I buy wide online at Footsmart, and they offer great brand names.

But then, I bought some $20 walking shoes (in wide) at walmart last spring.
Cuter tennis shoes.

Have your mother professionally fitted, or see a podiatrist.
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Isthisrealyreal Aug 2019
Really send, that is bummer and must be regional, our sketcher store is full of wide and extra wide. I have Fred Flintstone feet so I wear fit-flops, but I keep looking for cute closed shoes and I always have lots of options to try on.

I wear arches and the depth of shoes is my challenge.
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My podiatrist said to always try on shoes to buy in the late afternoon, that is when your feet are their largest.
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If you want to order shoes online with free returns then Zappos is great! I went through 9 pairs of slippers before pleasing my picky father. They carry nearly every brand. But not SAS
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My wife is in mid stage dementia and I bought her a pair of UGGS. Not sure I spelled it correctly but they have real not artificial lambs wool from Australia inside and keeps her feet at a comfortable warmth Winter and Summer and they have good slip resistant soles.
They are the first things on in the morning and stay on until bedtime. She has always had cold feet until now. They slip on easy and do come in wide widths. And several colors.
They are a little pricey but worth it. Knock offs are cheaper, but don’t have the real lambs wool inside. Be ware.
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Zdarov Aug 2019
larry, this is good input and I’d never steer anyone away from Ugg. But as someone who avoids animal products when possible, I can testify that the fake fur lined with microfiber vs. suede outside are plenty pleasant, serviceable and warm. Just has to be by a good maker and - repeating a theme here! - Skechers makes good ones. :)
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I like Skechers for myself. I took my mother shoe shopping and she tried on quite a few brand names and could not find anything she thought was comfortable. Sizes varied greatly. Finally went to a Hibbetts store and she found some Brook Brothers shoes she liked. They have a wider toe box.
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Have you tried the SAS brand. When my mother started shuffling her feet we had to find shoes that fit well & would stay on her heel. ( she has very narrow feet) They are expensive but I was able to find on eBay in excellent conditions. They come in lots of styles. If you find a pair that works & she wears everyday they are worth the price.
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No doubt she needs a wider width shoe which can be hard to find. Don't let anyone suggest that going up a size in a medium width will work. If you can't get her to a store, try tracing her foot on a piece of paper and taking that to the store. Many brands of athletic shoes do not come in a wide width. New Balance is one brand that does.
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We found clarks to be a good shoe and mom’s podiatrist agreed. We had so much trial and error so bought online at Zappos for free ship/returns to try on. The Clarks we got are mary jane style so can adjust for swelling, have a smooth bottom and come in wide. I saw many suggested sketchers which is my favorite but because the bottom isn’t smooth would trip mom because she shuffles much of the time. Hope this helps.
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SAS has very comfortable Free Time shoes. I have black and white ones. They might have Velcro closings mine lace
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Riverdale Aug 2019
So glad you brought those up. My mother has terrible feet. That brand is the only ones she can wear. They are comfortable. They can be bought online. They might seem expensive but the price is worth it.
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I love Merrells and they come in wide sizes. Amazon has the best selection and prices. They don't have all the extra layers of padding where the sole hits the ground so they have a trim fit and last a lot longer than most shoes. My 92 yo mom tried this brand and loves them.
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Happy Feet is a good shoe store by us for orthopedic shoes and you can probably browse their site on line. I need arch support for my plantar fasciitis and arthritis in my knees. I have cute shoes from them that really help. Does she have foot problems? You might start with a podiatrist appointment.
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Mephisto shoes are spendy but great shoes, and Merrell make good shoes too. Imo
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The website Outlet Bound .com can help you find an outlet store near you that carries SAS. They are expensive and worth it. It's only August but the winter holidays are coming. When your mother's friends and family ask you if she wants something, a gift card (Amazon, Visa, MC, etc) to buy a pair of SAS shoes for her would make a great gift.

Is anything wrong with her feet? Did she wear lots of high heels when she was younger? Does she have bunions or hammer toes? How are her toe nails? All of these things can contribute to foot discomfort.
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One thing may be to look at the nails, whether they are trimmed properly. If they are allowed to grow they will get hard and curl up and you won't be able to get a shoe on her foot. You could go to a podiatrist but also if you know someone at a nail salon they could trim them for you; it would be less trouble than going to the podiatrist. A lot depends on how and where she walks; if she dresses to go out or just needs shoes around the house. Open-toed sandals and slipper sox might do for indoors. If she needs dressy shoes I won't have much help, sorry.
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I’ll agree with the recommendations for SAS, they became all my grandmother could wear in comfort. And the funny thing is, she’d never have worn them at all if she’d had any idea of the price, she was far too frugal to buy anything that expensive. Each time a family member would either take her to get some or purchase them and bring them to her, she’d faithfully give a $20 and ask if that was the right amount, and we’d always say yes, totally correct. It’s a fond memory now. Good luck finding shoes that work!
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NYDaughterInLaw Aug 2019
$20 in 1930 is worth over $300 today. Grandma wasn't cheap!
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My friend has terrible bunions and wears wide Box shoes. Finally relief for her, wearing LEMS shoes.
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Check if there is a local shoe center that sells orthopedic shoes AND normal brands. My mother had the same problem and refused to wear the shoes she had worn for decades. We took her in, they fit her, and she was able to purchase a pair she liked and actually wears in a normal brand( I think hers are New Balance but I’m not sure) . Hers are similar to Mary Janes but she also got a pair of sandals. They may not need to be orthopedic shoes, they may just need to be professionally fit .

if your mom is in a facility, they may request she wears actual shoes. Slippers and socks are not recommended at my mother’s ALF due to the heightened ability to step on something and fall etc
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Another SAS customer here. Was only brand Mom could wear in comfort. Not cheap but last for many many years.
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Something with a strap over the instep and a back to the shoe.  No sandals, no flipflops, etc.  I've also heard that boots are a safe footwear and very stable.  My mom wears Crocs that have a terrycloth lining, and there is a back that needs to be "fitted" with the rim of one of her fingers around it when she slips it on so that she isn't stepping on it and crushing it.  She complains how "heavy" they are, but they keep her from tripping, and they slow her walking down so that she is leaning more on her bench walker for support. Crocs also come in wide width and are comfortable and roomy.
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Skechers Women's Bikers -Fiesta Mary Jane Flat
Can order on Amazon in wide and 1/2 sizes for approx $55 to $60. My 98 yo mother loves hers and has several different styles.
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I bought my mom a pair of 1 button Bailey UGG boots. They are easy to put on and take off. The shearling is fantastically cozy but your feet don't sweat. The lofty wool inside conforms to the shape of your foot. UGGs were first designed in Australia with surfers in mind......My mom loved them and they were her shoes of choice. I guess they spoke to the inner surfer in her:) If you purchase them, scotch guard them to protect from staining and my only reservation is if your mom is in a nursing home. Don't know if they would get stolen:(
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We “hid” my mom’s regular shoes and had her wear athletic shoes,after her broken hip. She often questions them, but understands when I tell her that we think they are safer and we don’t want a fall and broken hip.
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http://www.murrayspaceshoe.co/

I remember these custom made shoes from the ... 70s or 80s.
Will be expensive however it is option to know about.

* Consider that it might be a cognitive or physical issue; she doesn't feel 'right' and focusing on her feet / comfort level. You could always go to a podiatrist and insure what her size is 'by the experts.'

* She might be having issues with balance: read about Proprioception: the sense of self-movement and body position. It is sometimes described as the "sixth sense". Proprioception occurs when proprioceptors, located in the periphery throughout the body, are activated. Proprioceptors are mechanosensory neurons within muscles, tendons, and joints. There are multiple types of proprioceptors which are activated during distinct behaviors and encode distinct types of information: limb velocity and movement, load on a limb, and limb limits. Vertebrates and invertebrates have distinct but similar modes of encoding this information. The central nervous system integrates proprioception and other sensory systems, such as vision and the vestibular system, to create an overall representation of body position, movement, and acceleration.

* There are companies that specialize in very wide widths. Google to find.

* A more reasonable approach could be buying inner-soles - type items.
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