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Foot and Nail Institute Fills the Gap in Senior Foot Care Services
Foot and Nail Institute empowers nurses to deliver vital services to seniors while doubling their income without burnout.
After seeing a significant foot care gap in the senior community, Ohio nurse Heather Wilson is spearheading efforts to fill this void by empowering other nurses to explore opportunities that extend beyond the bedside and start their own foot care business.
Launched in 2021, Foot and Nail Institute (FNI) is an online program that trains nurses to start, run, and grow their senior foot care business and deliver quality patient services. The goal is to bring them to the forefront of senior care while allowing them to build a financially secure career without burnout and overwhelm.
“We are filling the gap of senior foot care services while building nurse-owned businesses. From bedside to business, leverage your nurse license,” says Wilson.
The senior population is growing rapidly, as are the issues of osteoporosis and diabetes. These conditions place tremendous demands on older adults’ feet, making them susceptible to common foot problems, such as corns, calluses, and heel pain. Sometimes, these issues can lead to infections or, worse, amputations.
According to the Amputee Coalition, approximately 185,000 amputations occur in the United States each year, most of which could be prevented with appropriate foot care. However, changes in insurance regulations and a shortage of care providers have made it more difficult for older adults to obtain reliable, hygienic foot care services. This has left many without the care they need to stay healthy and active, leading to an increased risk of injury and reduced quality of life.
In 2011, Wilson founded Everyday Divinity to give seniors access to hygienic and effective foot care services. But as demand continued to increase, she decided to launch FNI. Through hands-on training and in-depth webinars, more nurses will be able to help address this growing health need and provide vital senior care services in their communities. As foot care nurses, they could give general foot assessments, trim and file nails, reduce calluses, and prevent infections that put seniors at risk.
FNI’s program offers technical knowledge and business insights that enable nurses to transition from employees to independent business owners. The lessons leverage Wilson’s extensive experience as a foot care nurse, shortening the learning curve of becoming a successful nurse entrepreneur.
Since its establishment, FNI has assisted hundreds of nurses across 30 states in starting foot care businesses. Many are now experiencing the freedom and flexibility of being their own boss and the satisfaction of helping patients improve their health outcomes.
