![]() Then one day I noticed that one of her toenails curves and punctures the skin on her toe. I never even thought of toe nails or foot care when it came to caring for mom. My mom’s nails are thicker and yellower than I ever recall seeing. “I think seniors’ toenails get thick if not cut/trimmed regularly. If so, you could make a lunch out of it as well and introduce your loved one (if they don’t go already) to the wonderful folks at your local senior center or adult day care center.” –HelenM Call your local Area Agency on Aging and see if they know of any senior centers, day care programs or other sites that have ‘toe nail clinics’ or a similar program. “The local senior center here has a ‘toe nail clinic’ once a month. Sterile conditions are also important.” –hessaw This is most important for diabetics, but common sense for people who cannot see well or reach their feet to work safely. Medicare covers podiatrist care if the need is properly documented, and these professionals have the skills and implements to do the job without causing any further injury. ![]() “Many older people are unable to safely care for their toenails. If they are done every eight weeks, they won’t be so difficult to do every time.” –anonymous182580 Mum has a good foot soak, then the grinding wheel to file the nails because they are so thick and then a foot massage. “I am my mum’s live-in caregiver and I have an LPN foot care nurse come to the house every eight weeks to take care of my mum’s toenails. If the pedicurist buffs too hard and your loved one can’t feel if they get hurt, they’re going to have more problems with a potential infection than just having long toe nails.” –NancyH ![]() Not all salons are created equal when it comes to dealing with diabetic feet. “If your loved one is diabetic and has neuropathy and you take them to a salon, the salon needs to know about their conditions. Medicare pays for it, and I know he will get them done safely.” –samsmom43 In the event he cut himself, he would be in serious trouble. “My 83-year-old father is on blood thinners and HAS to go to a podiatrist. Furthermore, it is never a good idea to have one’s feet worked on by anyone other than a podiatrist if there’s ANY circulatory conditions present, such as diabetes, venous insufficiency, peripheral artery disease, etc.” –CarolLynn “Pedicurists do it all the time, even though it is illegal for them to work on feet that are infected, whether bacterial or fungal. They have some good programs for helping vets age in place as long as possible.” –1500miles In fact, it is looking like the VA is going to be the better choice for all those icky-picky little things, if not his overall care. “I took Dad to the podiatrist recommended by his primary care physician, but this podiatrist informed us that he ‘doesn’t do toenails’! Luckily for us, the local VA clinic DOES ‘do’ toenails, and Dad qualifies for some services there as a WWII vet. For older feet, I think it’s always a good idea to check for pedal pulse and circulation issues.” –gardenartist ![]() If you do decide to go to a doctor’s office, ask what services accompany the nail trimming. She’s the first one who’s ever done that. It’s more like a spa treatment than just toenail clipping. ![]() Her assistants prep the foot with little gauze pads between the toes, the doctor does the trimming and scraping of any excess growth on the top of the nails, then the assistant does some lotion application, etc. Dad’s current podiatrist ALWAYS checks for pedal pulse and skin integrity, making recommendations if appropriate. “When we were searching for a new podiatrist, I got lists of all the podiatrists at the hospital we use and called them one by one with my checklist. She was 27 and almost lost a foot! I am an RN and deal with this a lot.” –mary111 In this case, use only a podiatrist! Older folks have suppressed immune systems and I even know a friend who got MRSA from a salon. Many diabetics develop nail and other fungal issues. “I would be careful when selecting a salon to do pedicures (especially if your loved one has diabetes). ![]()
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