Dr. Adam Cornejo, the Toe Doc, is bringing mobile podiatry service to Los Alamos County. Courtesy photo
LARSO NEWS
The Los Alamos Retired and Senior Organization is one agency that runs both local senior centers. As life has changed over the last five weeks, needs that are normally met without delay, have risen to the top. The goal of LARSO staff is to lay out how to meet the challenges, as they go forward, into May.
One such need was the greatly valued service of toe nail clipping. This is not a massage, clipping and paint job, but the task many of us take for granted, in the ability to carry out the activity. Many seniors are met with challenges including; limited flexibility, having the proper tools, and in some cases medical changes due to medications, that make it impossible.
Last week, Ken Hendricks of Home Instead alerted the center about The Toe Doc, a mobile podiatry service. LARSO Director, Bernadette Lauritzen coordinated with Dr. Adam Cornejo to get some in-home help to her seniors.
“Adam was delightful to work with and our hope is to secure a minimum of six clients to alleviate the travel fee,” said Lauritzen. “He was willing to provide a day of service in Los Alamos and a day of service in White Rock to see if we can gauge interest.”
How did this all begin? “I started in the summer of 2018 and thought I would be mostly removing ingrown toenails and seeing general consults patients at the office,” said Cornejo. “As I called to do marketing around Albuquerque and the surrounding area, I discovered individuals were asking if I could come to their homes to treat them as they had several limitations for traveling to a clinic to receive care.”
Since that time, Cornejo has pivoted his business to focus primarily on offering home podiatry visits at a fair and transparent price.
The service begins this Monday for Los Alamos with several slots still available. Cornejo then returns for a visit to White Rock, May 4. Proper care of your feet is a life-long gift you give yourself, but when problems arise, help on the way.
“Everyone I meet shares wonderful stories with me about their lives and their families,” said Cornejo. “I have learned so much, non-medical insight through my conversations with clients.”
He reminds residents to take important steps during a crucial time of self-care. He recommends a simple daily foot hygiene, to change one’s socks daily and apply a moisturizer to the feet and legs. He likes the opportunity to make life easier for his patients and enjoys answering questions.
The senior center is coordinating his visits for senior center members and residents 60 and older can join for free by phone. The rate for in-home service is $45 and is not a donation but direct payment for the doctor’s services. The Toe Doc is available for other services including removing ingrown toenails, general podiatry consults, and is able to administer steroid injections for things like plantar fasciitis. Those services would need to be scheduled for a separate visit. Meanwhile toenail cutting can be arranged by calling (505) 662-8920.