✅ Medically reviewed by Dr. Thomas Biernacki, DPM — Board-Certified Podiatrist · Last updated April 6, 2026

Fall Prevention in Nursing Homes Starts with the Feet — A Podiatrist’s Perspective

Falls in Nursing Homes: A Massive Problem With a Podiatric Solution

Falls are the leading cause of injury and injury-related death in adults over 65. Up to 50–75% of nursing home residents fall each year. Each fall costs the facility an average of $26,000–$50,000 in direct costs, liability, and quality rating impact — and the human cost is incalculable. Balance Foot & Ankle’s on-site podiatry program includes a dedicated fall prevention component that identifies and corrects foot-related fall risk before the next fall happens.

Foot-Related Fall Risk Factors

Overgrown or thickened toenails that change shoe fit and affect balance. Calluses and corns that shift weight distribution during walking. Peripheral neuropathy — patients can’t feel the floor properly and lose proprioceptive feedback. Ill-fitting shoes or slippers, especially those too large or with slippery soles. Foot deformities (bunions, hammertoes) that alter gait and base of support. Edema that changes shoe fit throughout the day. Weak ankle stability from disuse, arthritis, or neurological changes.

Our Fall Risk Assessment Protocol

Every resident visit includes a structured foot-related fall risk assessment: footwear evaluation (fit, sole grip, heel height, closure), neuropathy screening, gait observation, foot deformity documentation, and edema assessment. Findings are communicated to nursing staff with specific actionable recommendations.

Interventions That Reduce Falls

Proper footwear fitting recommendations, custom orthotics that improve stability and proprioceptive feedback, regular nail and callus care to normalize foot mechanics, neuropathy monitoring and MLS laser treatment, ankle support recommendations, and communication with PT for balance training coordination.

One fall prevention program visit to your facility pays for itself many times over. Call Balance Foot & Ankle: (810) 206-1402

Professional Podiatric Care in Michigan: Balance Foot & Ankle’s Comprehensive Services

At Balance Foot & Ankle, Michigan patients receive comprehensive podiatric care across the full spectrum of foot and ankle conditions. Our fellowship-trained podiatrists provide conservative and surgical treatment for all foot and ankle pathology — from plantar fasciitis, bunions, and nail disorders to complex reconstructive surgery, diabetic foot care, and sports injuries. Our clinical approach prioritizes accurate diagnosis, evidence-based treatment selection, and honest communication with patients about realistic outcomes.

We serve patients in Livingston and Oakland counties from two convenient Michigan locations: our Howell office at 4330 E Grand River (serving Brighton, Hartland, Pinckney, Howell, and all of Livingston County) and our Bloomfield Hills office at 43494 Woodward Ave #208 (serving Troy, Birmingham, West Bloomfield, Farmington Hills, and all of Oakland County). Both offices offer in-office X-ray, same-week new patient appointments, and a full range of diagnostic and treatment services. We accept Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, Medicare, and most Michigan insurance plans. Call Balance Foot & Ankle at (810) 206-1402 to schedule your appointment.

Michigan patients from throughout the region — Livingston County communities including Howell, Brighton, Hartland, Pinckney, and Fowlerville, and Oakland County communities including Bloomfield Hills, Troy, Birmingham, West Bloomfield, Farmington Hills, Pontiac, and Rochester — can access expert podiatric care at Balance Foot & Ankle. Our clinical team is committed to providing the highest standard of foot and ankle care available in Southeast Michigan, from routine preventive care to complex surgical intervention. Call (810) 206-1402 to schedule — we look forward to serving you at our Howell or Bloomfield Hills location.

Related Treatment Guides

• Plantar Fasciitis & Heel Pain Treatment
• Custom 3D Orthotics
• Sports Foot & Ankle Injury Treatment
• Bunion Treatment

Scheduling with Balance Foot & Ankle is straightforward — call (810) 206-1402 during business hours and our front desk team will find an appointment time that works for your schedule, verify your insurance coverage before the visit, and answer any preliminary questions you have about what to expect. Our Howell office at 4330 E Grand River has convenient parking and is easily accessible from I-96, M-59, and Grand River Avenue. Our Bloomfield Hills office at 43494 Woodward Ave #208 is located on Woodward Avenue with parking adjacent to the building. Both locations are accessible by patients throughout Southeast Michigan, and our team looks forward to providing you with the professional, evidence-based podiatric care that you and your feet deserve.

Medical References & Sources

• American Podiatric Medical Association — Patient Education
• American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society — Foot Conditions

Clinical References

1. Menz HB, Morris ME, Lord SR. Foot and ankle risk factors for falls in older people: a prospective study. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci. 2006;61(8):866-870.
2. Jessup RL. Foot pathology and inappropriate footwear as risk factors for falls in a subacute aged-care hospital. J Am Podiatr Med Assoc. 2007;97(3):213-217.
3. Crews RT, Yalla SV, Fleischer AE, Wu SC. A growing troubling triad: diabetes, aging, and falls. J Aging Res. 2013;2013:342650.

Your Board-Certified Podiatrists

Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM

Board-Certified · FACFAS

Dr. Carl Jay, DPM

Board-Certified Podiatrist

Dr. Daria Gutkin, DPM

Podiatrist

Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM

Dr. Tom Biernacki, DPM is a double board-certified podiatrist and foot & ankle surgeon at Balance Foot & Ankle Specialists in Southeast Michigan. With over a decade of clinical experience, he specializes in heel pain, bunions, diabetic foot care, sports injuries, and minimally invasive surgery. Dr. Biernacki is a member of the APMA and ACFAS, and his patient education content on MichiganFootDoctors.com and YouTube has reached over one million views.