Foot Care – Freiheit Care

Foot Care in Ottawa

Nurse-Led Foot Care at Home — Because Independence Is Built From the Ground Up

Most people don’t think about their feet until walking hurts. By then a thickened nail, an untreated callus or a small unnoticed cut has already started changing how someone moves — and that change is where falls come from. Our foot care nurses come to you, treat what’s there, and check for what’s coming.

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Feet Are Where Independence Is Quietly Lost

Almost nobody moves into care because of their feet. But a surprising number of people move into care because of a fall — and a great many falls begin with a foot that hurts.

The sequence is predictable. A thickened or ingrown nail makes shoes uncomfortable, so the person shifts their weight. A callus on the ball of the foot makes them shorten their stride. Painful feet make walking unpleasant, so they walk less, lose strength and balance, and become more likely to fall when they do move. Somewhere in that chain, a routine 45 minutes with a foot care nurse would have interrupted the whole thing.

Freiheit Care provides nurse-led foot care in the home across Ottawa, Kanata, Nepean, Barrhaven, Orléans, Vanier, Stittsville, Gloucester, Manotick, and into Gatineau and Aylmer. Every visit includes an assessment as well as treatment — because what a nurse notices on your feet often matters more than what they trim.

Call 613-518-8258 for a free consultation — no obligation, no pressure.

What a Foot Care Nurse Notices That Nobody Else Will

Your feet are the part of your body you’re least likely to see. For anyone who can’t easily bend forward, has reduced vision, or has lost sensation through neuropathy, they may be genuinely out of reach and out of feeling — which means a problem can develop for weeks without being noticed at all.

A foot care nurse looks at the whole picture: skin condition and colour, temperature, swelling, pulses and circulation, sensation, nail health, pressure points, existing wounds, and the wear pattern on your shoes. Every one of those tells them something. Cold, pale feet with weak pulses suggest circulation problems. A callus in an unusual place means pressure is falling somewhere it shouldn’t. A small break in the skin that hasn’t started healing is the beginning of something that needs attention now, not in six weeks.

That’s the difference between a treatment and a check-up. You get both in the same visit, and if something needs a doctor, we say so and help you get there.

Roughly a third of Canadians over 65 fall each year. Painful feet are one of the most fixable contributors — and one of the most overlooked.

What Our Foot Care Service Includes

Every appointment starts with an assessment and ends with treatment matched to what we actually find.

Nail Trimming and Filing

Toenails cut and filed to the correct length and shape, which sounds simple until you can't reach your feet, can't grip the clippers, or can't see well enough to do it safely. Done properly, it also prevents the ingrown nails that come from cutting them wrong.

Thickened and Fungal Nail Reduction

Nails thickened by fungus, trauma or age can become too hard to cut at home and painful inside a shoe. We reduce thickness and length safely with proper equipment, and advise on treatment options and when to see a physician.

Ingrown Toenail Care

Advice on properly fitting footwear, and support with compression stockings — including the fact that most people cannot get them on unaided, which is why so many prescribed pairs end up in a drawer.

Corn and Callus Reduction

Corns and calluses are pressure signals. We reduce them safely — and, just as importantly, work out what caused them, because a callus that's only shaved off will always come back.

Diabetic Foot Assessment and Care

The single most important service on this list. Includes sensation testing, circulation and pulse checks, skin and nail inspection, footwear review, and careful treatment appropriate to a high-risk foot. Anything concerning is documented and reported.

Cracked Heel and Dry Skin Treatment

Deep heel fissures are painful and can open a route for infection. We debride hardened skin, treat the cracks, and set up a moisturizing routine that actually gets followed — including having a caregiver do it if needed.

Circulation and Sensation Checks

Pulse assessment, temperature and colour comparison between feet, and monofilament sensation testing. These pick up peripheral arterial disease and neuropathy early, when there's still something useful to do about them.

Footwear and Compression Guidance

Foot Health Education for Clients and Families

How to check feet daily, what to look for, what's normal and what isn't, how to moisturize without creating problems between the toes, and when to pick up the phone. Taught to the client and to whoever helps them.

Foot Care Nurse, Chiropodist, or Pedicure — What's the Difference?

These three get confused constantly, and choosing wrong can be genuinely risky. Here’s the honest version.

These three get confused constantly, and choosing wrong Not sure which one your situation calls for? Ask us. We’d rather point you to the right professional than take a booking we shouldn’t.can be genuinely risky. Here’s the honest version.

Who Really Needs Nursing Foot Care

Anyone Living With Diabetes

Non-negotiable. Diabetes can reduce both sensation and circulation, which means an injury may go unfelt and then heal slowly or not at all. Regular professional foot care and daily checking are the front line of preventing diabetic foot ulcers.

People Who Simply Can't Reach Their Feet

Arthritis, back problems, obesity, hip or knee replacements, reduced vision, or a tremor that makes clippers unsafe. There is nothing undignified about this — it's mechanics, and it's one of the most common reasons people call us.

Thickened, Fungal or Ingrown Nails

Nails that have become too hard to cut, painful in shoes, or repeatedly ingrown. Attempting these at home is how people end up with infections, and attempting them at a salon is how high-risk clients end up in emergency.

Poor Circulation and Swelling

Peripheral arterial disease, venous insufficiency, lymphoedema, heart failure. These feet need careful handling, regular monitoring, and often compression — and they're the feet where small problems escalate fastest.

People on Blood Thinners

Warfarin, apixaban, rivaroxaban and similar medications turn a minor nick into a bleed that's hard to stop. Foot care on anticoagulants should be done by someone clinically trained who knows that going in.

Sound like you or your parent?

One honest conversation, no obligation. We'll tell you what's needed and how often.

If You Have Diabetes, Your Feet Deserve More Than a Nail Trim

Diabetes affects feet in two ways that compound each other. Neuropathy dulls sensation, so a blister, a stone in the shoe or a small cut may not be felt at all. Reduced circulation then slows healing, so the injury that wasn’t noticed doesn’t close on its own. That combination is how diabetic foot ulcers begin, and ulcers are the leading cause of non-traumatic lower-limb amputation in Canada.

The encouraging part is that this chain is interruptible almost everywhere along it. Diabetes Canada recommends checking feet daily and having them examined regularly by a health professional — more often for anyone with existing neuropathy, circulation problems or a history of ulceration.

Our diabetic foot care includes sensation testing, pulse and circulation assessment, careful nail and skin care with sterile instruments, footwear review, and documented findings your family and physician can actually use. If we see something that needs medical attention, you’ll hear it from us that day.

Red flags — call your doctor or nurse today

A cut, blister, sore or crack that isn't healing
Redness, warmth, swelling, or any discharge or odour
A new dark or blackened area of skin
Sudden pain, or new numbness or tingling
A foot that is noticeably colder or a different colour from the other

With diabetes, “wait and see” is the one approach that doesn’t work. Small problems get looked at now.

Foot Care Is Every Six Weeks. Feet Need Attention Every Day.

Here is the structural problem with foot care as most Ottawa providers deliver it. A nurse visits every six to eight weeks, does excellent work, and leaves. What happens on the other fifty-five days is left entirely to a client who may not be able to see or reach their own feet.

For a healthy person that’s fine. For someone with diabetes, neuropathy or poor circulation, it’s the gap where ulcers start.

Freiheit Care is not a foot-care-only clinic, and on this page that’s the whole point. Our Personal Support Workers already visit many of the same clients for personal care, and they can carry out the daily piece: checking feet during the morning routine, moisturizing correctly — never between the toes — changing socks, watching for redness at pressure points, and reporting anything new to the registered nurse the same day.

One agency, one care plan, one record. The nurse who treats your feet in March knows what the caregiver saw in February.

A specialist treats your feet eight times a year. We can also be there the other three hundred and fifty-seven days.

What Foot Care Costs in Ottawa — and What Might Cover It

OHIP does not cover routine foot care. That surprises people, so it’s worth stating plainly up front. Nursing foot care in Ontario is paid privately or through a benefit plan.

Private insurance. Many extended health plans reimburse nursing foot care, and some cover chiropody or podiatry under a separate limit. We provide itemized receipts with the practitioner’s designation and registration number so you can claim.

Veterans Affairs Canada. Eligible veterans can have foot care covered through VAC. We’re an approved provider and handle the coordination directly.

Community clinics. Several Ottawa community health centres and seniors’ organizations run low-cost foot care clinics on a sliding scale. They’re excellent value if you can travel to them and are comfortable waiting for an appointment. If that fits your situation better than a home visit, we’ll say so.

Private home visits. What we provide. You get a nurse at your door, a full assessment, treatment, and a documented record — usually on a six-to-eight-week cycle, adjusted to what your feet actually need. Transparent pricing given at the consultation, no hidden fees.

If a community clinic will meet your needs and you can get to one, we’ll tell you. We’d rather be the agency you trust than the one you resent.

Nursing Foot Care Across Ottawa, Gatineau and the Surrounding Region

We provide foot care wherever you are — your own home, a family member’s home, a retirement residence, or a long-term care home where the in-house service doesn’t reach far enough.

Bilingual caregivers and nurses available — French-language foot care across Vanier, Orléans, Gatineau and Aylmer.

What Happens at Your First Visit

Foot Care in Ottawa — Your Questions Answered

What is nursing foot care?

Nursing foot care is assessment and treatment of the feet by a registered nurse or RPN with advanced foot care certification. It covers nail trimming and filing, reduction of thickened and fungal nails, ingrown nail care, corn and callus reduction, cracked heel treatment, and diabetic foot assessment including sensation and circulation checks. Unlike a pedicure, every visit begins with a clinical assessment and findings are documented.

What's the difference between a foot care nurse, a chiropodist and a pedicure?

A pedicure is cosmetic — no assessment, no clinical training, and often no proper instrument sterilization. An advanced foot care nurse provides assessment and treatment of most common foot problems and refers onward when needed. A chiropodist or podiatrist is a regulated specialist who can diagnose conditions, prescribe orthotics, use local anaesthetic and perform minor surgical procedures. Most seniors need a foot care nurse; some need a chiropodist as well.

Is it safe to get a pedicure if I have diabetes?

Standard salon pedicures are generally not recommended for people with diabetes. Reduced sensation means a nick or cut may not be felt, reduced circulation means it may not heal well, and salon instruments are not always sterilized to clinical standards. Nursing foot care uses sterile instruments and begins with an assessment of sensation and circulation, which is exactly what a high-risk foot needs.

How often should I have foot care?

Most clients are seen every six to eight weeks, which matches the pace nails grow and calluses rebuild. People with diabetes, neuropathy, poor circulation or a history of ulceration are usually seen more frequently. The nurse recommends a schedule after the first visit based on what your feet actually need.

Does OHIP cover foot care in Ottawa?

No — routine foot care is not covered by OHIP. Many extended health insurance plans reimburse nursing foot care, and we provide itemized receipts with registration details for claims. Eligible veterans can have foot care covered through Veterans Affairs Canada. Some Ottawa community health centres also run low-cost foot care clinics on a sliding scale.

Do you come to the home?

Yes — home visits are how we deliver this service. The nurse brings sterilized instruments, PPE and assessment tools. Home visits suit anyone with mobility limits, transport difficulties, dementia, or a simple preference for being treated somewhere familiar. We also attend retirement residences and long-term care homes.

How are your instruments sterilized?

Instruments are either single-use or fully sterilized between clients following clinical infection prevention standards, and packs are opened in front of you. If any provider can't answer this question clearly, that's your answer about whether to book with them.

Can you treat thick or fungal toenails?

Yes. We reduce nail thickness and length safely with proper equipment, which relieves pressure and pain inside shoes. Nursing foot care manages fungal nails — it doesn't cure the underlying infection, which may need a topical or oral treatment prescribed by a physician. We'll tell you when that conversation is worth having.

I'm on blood thinners. Can I still have foot care?

Yes, and it's important that whoever does it knows. Anticoagulants such as warfarin, apixaban and rivaroxaban mean a small nick can bleed considerably. Our nurses take that into account in technique and equipment. Tell us at the consultation which medications you're on.

Can foot care be combined with other home care services?

Yes, and it's one of our real advantages. Freiheit Care provides personal care, nursing, dementia care, home help and respite alongside foot care, under one plan and one team. Our PSWs can carry out daily foot checks and moisturizing between nursing visits — the part a foot-care-only clinic cannot cover.

Do you offer foot care in French?

Yes. Bilingual nurses and caregivers are available across Ottawa, Vanier, Orléans, Gatineau and Aylmer. Nous offrons des soins des pieds en français dans la région d'Ottawa-Gatineau.

How quickly can foot care start?

Usually within a few days of the free consultation. If you're in pain, or you have diabetes and something looks wrong, tell us on the phone and we'll prioritize the visit.

Trusted. Loved. Recommended.

Real stories from Ottawa families who trust Freiheit Care for professional, RN-led care at home.

Choosing a caregiving agency for a loved one is not an easy decision. After trying a few different options, we were incredibly fortunate to find Freiheit Care. From our very first phone call, we have been treated with kindness, respect, understanding, and professionalism. The caregivers are skilled, dependable, patient, and genuinely compassionate. They have taken the time to understand and handle my parents' unique needs, routines, and preferences.

Freiheit recently provided respite care in our home to allow my husband and I to take our first trip in 20+ years. They cared for our intellectually disabled son, teenaged daughter and our dog which allowed us to travel without worry. We received timely updates and knew that the care worker had the support of a nurse (if needed)as well as back up personnel. Meals, supervision, and companionship requirements, and detailed care instructions were followed to the letter. Highly recommend Freiheit for respite care.

For the past year and a half we have been receiving health care assistance from Freiheit. Helen, the co-owner, has been very efficient and pleasant to deal with. She quickly located a nurse with all the skills and values we were seeking, who is a great fit with us. She has checked with us a few times to make sure that things are going well and is easy to get in touch with. Her agency has an effective way of checking that her staff are present and prompt, not that we have had any concerns with that.

I have been a nurse for 23 years and have not had the pleasure of working with such a compassionate and caring team. From the CEO to HR..to payroll, I am treated with respect and am made to feel that I am much more than a number. I can reach out to any of the management team, at any time and am answered promptly. Everything from Communication to being paid is in a timely fashion. I would highly recommend having Freiheit as an employer to my colleagues. I am honoured to work for Helen and the team.

Most of all she told me that she and her physician- husband (co-owner of the company) were proud of their handpicked "team". Finally, she seemed just kind, just so kind and compassionate... you could hear it in her voice and feel it through the airwaves😊😊What a leader she is!! Thank you for your passion, Helen!

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Tell Us How We Can Help

You don’t need a referral or a diagnosis. Most people call because their nails have got too hard to cut, their feet hurt in shoes, or someone with diabetes hasn’t had a proper foot check in longer than they’d like to admit.

Tell us what’s going on and we’ll tell you what’s needed, how often, and whether a foot care nurse is the right professional for it. No cost, no obligation.

Speak directly with our care team. No call centres, no hold music. We’re here when you need us.

A full foot assessment and treatment, with findings you can take to your physician.

We typically respond within one business day. We’re happy to help.

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