Right now, I bet any number of you reading this have already
filled in the rest of the line "you must acquit". Well, you're
wrong.
I could also entitled this "Third Time's a
Charm"--except that it isn't. OK, what am I talking about.
Trying to buy shoes for someone who is no longer able to be out
and about to get shoes fitted.
So, here's the story. My step-mother is currently living in a
nursing home. She has Parkinson's disease and, frankly, is far too unsteady for
me to try to take anywhere. I have observed staff at the nursing home
when they work to get my wheel-chair bound step-mother up for a once-a-day
walk. It takes THREE people--first, they attach a strap around her chest to
have something to hold on to, then one stands in front of her, while two lift
her up.
OK--you get the picture. No going shopping for shoes. So,
when I was informed by the nursing staff that she needed new shoes--I did the
logical thing. I went to her closet and checked the shoes sizes of her existing
shoes. Size 8, or size 7, or size 9. Maybe 9 1/2 -- all were in her
closet. She also informed me she has a narrow foot. My
solution--take a piece of paper, have her "stand" on it (remember,
with three people helping her up) and I trace around her barefoot.
Off to the store I go, and the shoe salesman goes along with my
placing the cut-out foot shape on the shoe fitting device (it's called a
Brannock Foot Measuring device, for all you purists out there). And he
announces size 8. I am skeptical, so I decide to go up a size, and I buy
an 8 1/2 size shoe with a velcro strap closing. Back at the nursing home,
the shoes seem to fit. But within a week, I hear from one of the nurses
that the velcro strap has "broken"--too tight. But, the nurse very
kindly sews the strap back on. That works for another few weeks, but then
my step-mother's one foot gets irritated.
So, off to buy another pair of shoes. This time I went to size
9 and bought a pair of clogs. Well, yes, they fit, but my step-mother complains
that they fall off. I am trying to visualize this for someone not
walking, but nevermind.
Finally, I visit a shoe store (Skechers) and buy a lace-up
sneaker style shoe in size 9. Laces--perfect. Soft fabric--perfect. Size
9--not perfect. Too tight. (Remember the narrow foot description???)
I return those shoes, and get the exact same shoe in a size 9
1/2. Yesterday, I delivered these to the nursing home. And then I
waited--for a phone call: do they fit or not? Today that phone call
came--no, they are too tight.
My final recourse--return the exact match shoes. Give up on
Skechers (which I like a lot...most comfortable shoes). Then sometime soon, I
will visit a local department store. There, I will buy a pair of 9 1/2
WIDE shoes with laces. And that's it.
------------------------
The moral of this story: If it doesn't fit, you must buy
another pair. (I know, I know it doesn't rhyme, but it makes more sense
than the original quote.)
4 comments:
If it doesn't fit
People get in a snit
Too bad the nursing home didn't have a therapist who might have been able to help you get a better measurement. Or one who might know an orthopedic shoe sales person who might be willing to visit. My M-I-L was in a nursing home in our city for six years so I do understand your frustration. It's always something, isn't it?
I don't envy you. I agree with NCmountainwoman. You would think that this is something that comes up often at nursing homes and they would have a way of solving the situation. Very frustrating.
How about Crocs--and order larger?
What a frustration that must be! Sounds like you did everything right. I'm with Mountainwoman. You can't be the only one having this problem at the nursing home.
I saw something recently about a woman who'd bought a van and had begun a business taking shoes to customers for them to try on and buy at home. She was going with the strappy, 6" heels types, but I think someone would have more success starting one going to nursing homes.
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