Slip-On Shoes for Seniors: Easy-On Pairs That Still Stay Put

Watch someone put on a pair of shoes and you learn a lot. There is the long bend toward the floor, the fumble with a bow, and often a hand reaching for the dresser to stay upright.

Search for slip on shoes for seniors and you will find hundreds of pairs, with very little about which ones actually stay on the foot.

If you are a senior, maybe the laces have become a daily chore, or bending down has. If you are a caregiver, you may be the one kneeling on the floor every morning to tie them.

Easy to put on and safe to walk in are not opposites.

The trick is knowing which shortcuts keep the heel held in place and which ones quietly let it go.

Quick Answer: Are Slip On Shoes for Seniors Safe?

A slip-on can be a safe everyday shoe if it has a closed, firm back and fits snugly enough that the heel does not lift out as you walk.

Backless slip-ons and stretched-out pairs are a different story, and so is any shoe you have to grip with your toes to keep on. When a slip-on will not fit snugly, a hook-and-loop (Velcro) strap or no-tie elastic laces usually give the same easy entry with a better hold.

Why Shoes Get Harder to Put On

The complaint sounds the same every time, but the cause is not.

• Stiff or painful hands. Arthritis in the fingers turns a bow knot into one of the fiddliest jobs of the day.
• Bending, because a stiff back, a stiff hip or the precautions after a hip replacement can put the feet out of reach
• Balance. Standing on one leg to push a foot into a shoe is a balance test most people never notice they are taking.
• Memory changes, which can make the steps of lacing a shoe stop making sense

Each one points to a different fix. A shoe that solves the bending problem may do nothing for sore hands, and the reverse is just as true.

What the Research Says About Slip-Ons and Falls

Researchers who study footwear in older adults use the word fixation for anything that holds a shoe to the foot, such as laces, straps or buckles. It turns out to matter.

Sherrington and Menz looked at the footwear of 95 people, average age 78, who had broken a hip in a fall. Sixty-three percent had been wearing shoes with no fixation at all, and people whose fall was a trip were more likely to have had nothing fastening the shoe on.

A lab study hints at why. When Davis and colleagues recorded 30 women with an average age of 69 walking, shoes fastened across the top of the foot kept the foot higher off the floor during each step and let the heel slip less than slippers did.

Now the part most shoe pages leave out.

The hip fracture study only looked at people who had already fallen, so it shows what they were wearing, not that the shoes caused the falls. And when Menz, Morris and Lord followed 176 retirement village residents for a year, no single shoe feature predicted falls, although going barefoot or in socks indoors did, with about 14 times the odds.

A Washington state study by Koepsell and colleagues compared 327 older adults who fell with 327 who did not. Athletic and canvas sneakers went with the lowest fall risk, and bare feet or stocking feet with a sharply higher one.

Put together, the research says any proper shoe beats no shoe, and a shoe that stays put is a sensible bet.

The studies cited here did not compare a well-fitted, closed-back slip-on directly against a laced shoe.

How to Tell a Safe Slip-On From a Risky One

Everything that matters on a slip-on happens at the heel. These checks take about a minute, in the store or at home.

• A closed back. Mules, scuffs and other backless styles have nothing to hold the heel, and 63 percent of the shoes in the hip fracture study had no fixation at all.
• A heel counter that holds its shape. Squeeze the back of the shoe between thumb and finger; Sherrington and Menz found overly flexible heel counters in 43 percent of the shoes they examined.
• The heel-lift walk. Put both shoes on and cross the room at your normal pace, and if a heel rises out of the shoe or the toes curl to hold it on, that pair is too loose.
• Room at the front, so a snug fit at the heel does not mean crushed toes

Caregivers, watch for a new shuffle. A person who slides their feet instead of lifting them may be working to keep a loose shoe on without realizing it.

Our guide to footwear that helps seniors prevent falls covers sole grip and the trouble with house slippers, so this article does not repeat them.

A Note on Thin, Flexible Soles

All three slip-ons in the cards below are sold as minimalist or barefoot-style shoes with flexible rubber soles. Two of the listings also describe a zero-drop sole, meaning the heel sits level with the toes.

That style suits some feet and not others.

People with big toe arthritis are often advised the opposite, a firm and stiff sole, as our article on hallux rigidus and big toe arthritis explains. Anyone with numb feet should check with a clinician first, since a thin sole leaves less between a foot that cannot feel well and whatever is underneath it.

Our page on exercises for peripheral neuropathy covers the daily foot checks that go with numbness. And if you are used to thick, cushioned shoes, build up time in a flatter one over a few weeks rather than wearing it all day from the first morning.

For someone with healthy feet who wants a light, breathable shoe with no fastening at all, a wide-fit mesh slip-on can work if it holds the heel. The evidence above favors a secure fit, so do the squeeze test and the heel-lift walk when it arrives, because the listing does not describe the heel counter.

Some people find mesh too soft and want an upper that looks less like a gym shoe. The next pair uses leather, with a wide width fit, an EVA insole and a zero-drop rubber sole.

Sizes on these listings are EU sizes, which do not line up neatly with US sizes. Measure the foot and compare it with the size chart on each product page, rather than going by the size printed in an old shoe.

Velcro Shoes for Seniors: When a Strap Beats a Slip-On

A hook-and-loop strap gives most of the ease of a slip-on plus a real hold across the top of the foot. It also adjusts, which no slip-on can do.

That makes a strap the better choice in several situations.

• Feet that swell during the day. A strap can be loosened in the afternoon, and if the swelling is new or only on one side, our guide to causes of swelling in the legs and feet explains when to call a doctor.
• Hands that cannot manage a knot. An occupational therapist quoted by Arthritis UK puts Velcro fastenings first on the list of options for people who struggle to tie laces.
• A heel that slides around in every slip-on you have tried
• Dementia. The Alzheimer’s Association suggests swapping buttons, snaps and zippers for Velcro on clothing, and recommends comfortable, non-slip shoes.

Straps wear out.

Once the hook side clogs with lint and the strap peels open on its own, the shoe is no longer fastened, however tidy it looks.

The cards in this article do not include a closed hook-and-loop shoe. If a strap is the right answer, look for a closed back and a strap that crosses the top of the foot, wherever you buy.

No-Tie Elastic Laces: What They Fix and What They Don’t

Elastic laces turn a lace-up shoe into one you can step into. You set the tension once, lock it with the clip or toggle, and the shoe stretches open each time the foot goes in.

The same Arthritis UK advice lists elastic draw-string laces and coiled laces for anyone who struggles with tying. They are a good fix when a lace-up shoe already fits well and the only problem is the bow.

What elastic laces cannot do is make a big shoe fit.

If they have to be pulled so tight that the shoe bunches, or the heel still lifts on the heel-lift walk, the shoe is the wrong size or shape. The studies cited here did not measure whether elastic laces change fall risk, so treat them as a convenience, not a safety device.

Setting the tension is a good job for a caregiver. Lace them snug with the person seated and the foot flat on the floor, have them walk a few steps, then adjust once more before locking.

One shoe in this series can go either way. The canvas pair below is sold as a slip-on that can also be laced for a more secure fit, according to its listing, so a person can start with easy entry and add a firmer hold later without buying a second pair.

Wide Heel Shoes: Why the Base Under the Heel Matters

People who search for wide heel shoes usually want one of two things. Some want a walking shoe with a broad, flat heel, and others want a dress shoe with a block heel in place of a narrow one.

The research points the same way for both.

Using the same Washington state group of 327 people who fell and 327 who did not, Tencer and colleagues measured the shoes themselves. Higher heels went with more falls, and a larger area of sole touching the ground went with fewer.

In a lab, Yamaguchi and colleagues attached foam blocks to widen the soles of 16 healthy adults aged 65 to 78, then shifted the floor under them sideways. With the wider soles they needed a recovery step in fewer trials, 39 percent of trials instead of 64 percent in one test.

That evidence is thin.

One study looked back at falls that had already happened, and the other tested a small group of healthy people in a lab.

It still supports a plain rule for dress shoes: a broad, low block heel is steadier than a narrow or tall one, and lower is better.

None of the shoe listings in this article states a heel width. The two that describe a zero-drop sole have no raised heel at all, which puts them on the low end of the heel-height question.

Tools That Take the Bending Out of Shoes

Sometimes the shoe is fine and the problem is getting down to it.

• Sit down to do it. The occupational therapist in the Arthritis UK piece suggests sitting to dress if balance is a problem.
• A long-handled shoehorn. OrthoInfo, from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, recommends one after hip replacement, along with a reacher, to avoid bending over too far.

The shoehorn is not just for people recovering from surgery. Anyone whose feet have drifted out of reach can use one, and it pairs naturally with a slip-on or elastic laces.

Helping a Parent With Shoes: Tips for Caregivers

If you are a caregiver, the best shoe is often the one your parent can put on without you, even if it takes longer.

• One item at a time. The Alzheimer’s Association recommends laying clothing out in the order it goes on and handing over one piece at a time with a short, plain instruction.
• Offer two pairs, not the whole closet, which is the same group’s advice for keeping choices from becoming overwhelming.
• Sit or kneel facing your parent, so you are not leaning over someone who is already unsteady.
• Check the back of the shoe. A slip-on that gets stepped into with the heel folded down soon has a crushed back, and at that point it has become a backless shoe.
• Keep the everyday pair beside the chair where shoes go on, not in the closet.

If your parent refuses anything new, skip the argument about falling. Put the new pair where the old one usually sits and let it be the easier choice.

What a Doctor or Physical Therapist Will Typically Check

Trouble with shoes is often the first visible sign of a change in strength, flexibility or balance.

• How you actually put shoes on, standing or seated, and what you hold for support
• Hand strength and finger movement, which decide whether laces, straps or neither will work.
• Hip, knee and back motion, which decide whether the feet can be reached at all
• Balance. A physical therapist may use a timed test such as the Timed Up and Go, where the CDC’s STEADI program treats 12 seconds or more as a sign of higher fall risk.
• Feeling in the feet, since numbness changes which soles are a safe choice
• The shoes themselves, including the pair kept by the bed

If you are a caregiver, bring the shoes your parent wears most days, not the good pair by the front door. Ask, too, whether an occupational therapist could help, since dressing tools and techniques are a core part of that profession’s work.

What NOT to Do

• Do not buy a slip-on a size up so it slides on more easily. That is how a heel ends up lifting out with every step.
• Do not step on the back of a slip-on to get into it.
• Do not stand on one leg to push a foot into a shoe if your balance is shaky.
• Do not count on elastic laces to make a loose shoe fit.
• Do not move someone with numb feet or big toe arthritis into a thin, barefoot-style sole without asking a clinician first.
• Do not assume any retail shoe, including the ones in this article, counts as a Medicare therapeutic shoe.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are slip on shoes safe for seniors?

They can be, if the back is closed and firm and the heel stays down when you walk. Backless or loose slip-ons are the ones to avoid.

Are Velcro shoes better than slip-ons for seniors?

For feet that swell, hands that cannot tie, or a heel that slides in every slip-on, usually yes, because a strap can be adjusted. For someone whose slip-on already fits snugly, none of the studies cited here shows that a strap adds anything.

What should I look for in no-tie shoelaces for seniors?

Look for laces long enough for the shoe and a lock that can be set once and left alone, since fiddly clips defeat the purpose for stiff hands. Then check the fit with the heel-lift walk, because no lace can fix a shoe that is too big.

My mother keeps crushing the backs of her shoes. What can I do?

That habit usually means getting her foot in is hard work. A long-handled shoehorn kept beside her chair, or elastic laces on a pair that fits, often removes the reason for it.

Does Medicare pay for easy-on or slip-on shoes?

Not for ordinary retail shoes, including the ones in this article. Medicare Part B covers therapeutic shoes or inserts only for people with diabetes and severe diabetes-related foot disease, when the doctor treating the diabetes certifies the need and a podiatrist or other qualified doctor orders them, with 20 percent coinsurance after the Part B deductible.

Final Thoughts for Adults Over 50

Easy-on shoes are worth having, and they work best when you know what you are trading. Give up the laces if you need to, but keep the hold at the heel.

If you are a senior, try the heel-lift walk on every pair you own this week. A pair that fails it needs a better hold, and if no lace or strap can give it one, it is time to retire it.

If you are a caregiver, the goal is to get yourself off the floor. A pair your parent can manage alone, with a shoehorn waiting by the chair, will do more than tying the laces every morning ever did.

Medical Disclaimer

This article is for general education and does not replace personalized medical advice. Anyone with diabetes, numb feet, poor circulation, a recent joint replacement or frequent falls should ask a physician, podiatrist or physical therapist which footwear suits them.

The shoes and laces shown are general retail products, not medical devices, and they are not meant to treat any condition or prevent falls.

You Might Also Be Wondering

• How sole grip and a snug fit work together to prevent falls, including which house slippers to replace.
• Preventing falls on nighttime trips to the bathroom, when shoes are usually the last thing anyone reaches for.
• A home safety checklist for seniors and their families.

Medical References

1. Sherrington C, Menz HB. An evaluation of footwear worn at the time of fall-related hip fracture. Age Ageing. 2003;32(3):310-314.
2. Davis AM, Galna B, Murphy AT, Williams CM, Haines TP. Effect of footwear on minimum foot clearance, heel slippage and spatiotemporal measures of gait in older women. Gait Posture. 2016;44:43-47.
3. Menz HB, Morris ME, Lord SR. Footwear characteristics and risk of indoor and outdoor falls in older people. Gerontology. 2006;52(3):174-180.
4. Koepsell TD, Wolf ME, Buchner DM, et al. Footwear style and risk of falls in older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2004;52(9):1495-1501.
5. Tencer AF, Koepsell TD, Wolf ME, et al. Biomechanical properties of shoes and risk of falls in older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2004;52(11):1840-1846.
6. Yamaguchi T, Cheng KC, McKay SM, Maki BE. Footwear width and balance-recovery reactions: a new approach to improving lateral stability in older adults. Gerontechnology. 2015;13(3):359-367.
7. Arthritis UK. Getting dressed with arthritis: tips to make it easier. January 18, 2024.
8. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, OrthoInfo. Activities After Hip Replacement.
9. Alzheimer’s Association. Dressing and Grooming.
10. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, STEADI. Assessment: Timed Up and Go (TUG).
11. Medicare.gov. Therapeutic shoes and inserts.