Shoes for dementia patients need to maximize safety and support limited mobility, since dementia can increase a senior’s fall risk and hinder their movements. Therefore, a dementia patient’s shoes should be supportive, comfortable, anti-slip, and easy to take on and off. The right fitting shoe should fit your loved one well without being too tight or too loose. If your loved one uses orthotics, be sure to consider that when shopping.

Let our care assessment guide you

Our free tool provides options, advice, and next steps based on your unique situation.

How to pick shoes for dementia patients: Key features

Shoes can be crucial pieces of safety equipment for seniors with dementia. Studies have shown that wearing proper shoes in the home can lower the likelihood of falls. However, wearing unsupportive footwear, like slippers, may lead to a significantly increased fall risk among community-dwelling seniors, according to a systematic review from the Journal of Rehabilitation Research & Development.

Certain shoe features can improve balance, safety, and joint health among seniors. These same features can also fulfill a variety of dementia patients’ footwear needs. Other features of an ideal shoe for dementia patients offer traction to each step to minimize slips and falls.

Key features to look for when shoe shopping for dementia patients include:

Proper fit
Good arch support
Large foot hole openings
Secure and easy-to-use fastening
Anti-slip treads
Beveled heels
Comfortable heel height
Room for orthotics, if needed

Dementia-friendly shoe design

Hook-and-loop or Velcro-style fastening will likely be easiest for dementia patients who are able to take their shoes on and off independently. Dementia can decrease fine motor skills, and using hook-and-loop straps generally requires less dexterity than using laces or zippers. However, zipper-lace designs can combine the ease of large zipper pulls with the support of one-time tying for customized tightness.

The importance of a proper fit

It’s crucial that a senior’s shoes fit their foot’s length, width, and arch profile. Proper-fitting shoes for dementia patients can reduce their fall risk, add comfort, and reduce joint and back pain.

Shoes that are too long can increase tripping hazards from stubbing the toe of the shoe into floors, steps, or thresholds. Shoes that are too narrow limit surface area between the sole and the ground, and shoes that are too wide can allow the foot to swim loosely inside the shoe. Shoes that don’t fit offer less support and make balance more difficult.

Talk to your loved one’s doctor or a podiatrist if you’re not sure how to fit shoes properly to your relative’s feet. They’ll also be able to tell you if adding orthotics would be best for the senior’s individual arch profile. Studies have shown that proper arch support can improve balance, decreasing senior dementia patients’ fall risk.

Best shoes for seniors with dementia

Walking shoes are likely the best type of shoe for seniors with dementia. Their athletic-oriented design and comfortable yet supportive materials often fulfill safety needs better than sandals, slippers, or fashion-oriented designs.

Since feet generally become wider and flatter with age, most options listed below offer wide and removable insoles to fit your loved one’s foot width, and they may offer room for a variety of orthotics if your relative needs extra arch support.

Let our care assessment guide you

Our free tool provides options, advice, and next steps based on your unique situation.

The cost of some shoes for dementia patients may be reimbursed by Medicare. If your relative itemizes medical costs, be sure to keep receipts to submit for potential reimbursement.

Now that you know what to look for when picking out shoes for your loved one with dementia, here are some top walking shoe options currently available on the market.

Friendly Shoes – Voyage

Features:

Zipper-lace design
Beveled heels
Anti-slip treads
Removable memory foam insoles
Cushioned heel collars

Cost: £87.60 ($108.12) on the Friendly Shoes website

New Balance 577 V1 Hook and Loop Walking Shoes

Features:

Hook-and-loop design
Anti-slip treads
Variety of shoe widths made for each size
May be eligible for Medicare reimbursement

Cost: As low as $54.15 on Amazon

Silverts Wide Lightweight Walking Shoes

Features:

Hook-and-loop design
Anti-slip treads
Removable insoles

Cost: As low as $53.98 on the Silverts website

Talk with a Senior Care Advisor

Our advisors help 300,000 families each year find the right senior care for their loved ones.

Silverts Extra Wide Shoes

Features:

Hook-and-loop design
Anti-slip treads
Space for orthotics
Water-resistant uppers

Cost: $58.57 on the Silverts website

Propét Stability X Strap Sneakers

Features:

Hook-and-loop design
Beveled heels
Anti-slip treads
Removable insoles
May be eligible for Medicare reimbursement

Cost: As low as $79.95 on Amazon

Clothing for Dementia Patients: What to Look For and What Works

11 Watches for Seniors with Dementia

SHARE THE ARTICLE

References

Mulford, D., Taggart, H., Nivens, A., & Payrie, C. (2008, August). Arch supports for improving balance and reducing pain in older adults. Applied Nursing Research.
Gross, T., Mercer, V. S., & Lin, F. (2012, July 1). Effects of foot orthoses on balance in older adults. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy.
Jellema, A., Huysmans T., Hartholt, K., & van der Cammen, T. J.M. (2019, June 6). Shoe design for older adults: evidence from a systematic review on the elements of optimal footwear. Maturitas.
Menant, J. C., Steele, J. R., Menz, H. B., Munro, B. J., & Lord, S. R. (2008, November 8). Optimizing footwear for older people at risk of falls. Journal of Rehabilitation Research & Development.

Meet the Author

Joe Carney

Joe Carney is an associate content strategist at OurParents. As a copywriter, he specializes in nuanced medical content that explores diseases, procedures, and medications of top concern to seniors. He holds bachelor’s degrees in journalism and philosophy from the University of Kansas.

The information contained in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical, legal or financial advice or create a professional relationship between A Place for Mom (of which OurParents is a trademark) and the reader. Always seek the advice of your health care provider, attorney or financial advisor with respect to any particular matter and do not act or refrain from acting on the basis of anything you have read on this site. Links to third-party websites are only for the convenience of the reader; A Place for Mom does not recommend or endorse the contents of the third-party sites.

OurParents is a trademark of A Place for Mom. A Place for Mom is paid by our participating communities, therefore our service is offered at no charge to families. Copyright © 2023 A Place for Mom, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy & Terms. Do Not Sell My Personal Information.

Senior Health

Medical Conditions Medication Management Nutrition and Exercise

Senior Living Options

Assisted Living Memory Care Independent Living Nursing Homes Home Care

Finances & Legal

Paying for Care Elder Law Insurance

Products for Seniors

Clothing & Shoes Tech & Safety Alerts

Best Shoes for Dementia Patients

Let our care assessment guide you

In this Article

How to pick shoes for dementia patients: Key features

Dementia-friendly shoe design

The importance of a proper fit

Best shoes for seniors with dementia

Let our care assessment guide you

Friendly Shoes – Voyage

New Balance 577 V1 Hook and Loop Walking Shoes

Silverts Wide Lightweight Walking Shoes

Talk with a Senior Care Advisor

Silverts Extra Wide Shoes

Propét Stability X Strap Sneakers

Related Articles