Household-shoe wearing and purchasing habits. A survey of people aged 65 years and older.

A mail survey was conducted to assess the types of household footwear currently being worn by a random sample of independently living men and women aged 65 years and older as well as their needs related to the purchase and wearing of household footwear. Questionnaires were completed by 128 people. The greatest number of respondents wore slippers all day around the home, purchasing these shoes because of their convenience and comfort. Respondents were not willing to purchase expensive shoes for household wear and infrequently replaced them, despite the fact that such footwear was worn for extended periods each day. It was concluded that further research is required to design a household shoe that fits well and accommodates a variety of foot pathologies typical of the elderly foot; the shoe should be comfortable, relatively inexpensive, and safe for typical household surfaces.