Five Steps for Proper Nail Care For Older Adults

By Marina Pink | October 9, 2023 |

Personal Care at Home in Glendale CA

Three out of ten older adults are unable to trim their toenails because they have arthritis and cannot use nail clippers, feel dizzy when they bend over, cannot bend far enough, have bad eyesight, or have thickened nails that are hard to cut.

Failure to take care of nails negatively impacts your dad’s foot health. It also makes it hard for him to take care of himself as his fingernails are too long and keeps scratching his skin when he goes to fasten a shirt, wash his hair, or practice oral care. How do you help him with proper nail care?

Trim Nails Every Four to Eight Weeks

Fingernails and toenails need to be trimmed every four to eight weeks. It depends on how fast your dad’s nails grow. Feet need to be washed, dried, and moisturized each day, but nails only need trimming every month or two.

Use a reminder set up in a calendar or with a smart assistant to make sure you keep track of when it’s time to trim nails again. If they’ve gotten longer than the end of the toe or finger before eight weeks, move up the nail trims.

Sanitize Nail Clippers Before Use

Before trimming your dad’s nails, sanitize them with rubbing alcohol. This process kills germs and prevents the risk of bacterial infection if you accidentally nick his skin. Make sure you’ve sterilized toenail clippers and smaller fingernail clippers.

Wash your hands or put on medical gloves, too. You don’t want to inadvertently touch your dad with germs on your hands and put him at risk of an infection.

Soak Feet First

One of the issues with aging and toenails is that the nails can become thicker. When it’s time to trim them, wait until your dad is out of the shower, or have him soak his feet first. Damp nails are easier to trim.

Trim Straight Across

When cutting nails, don’t cut at an angle or try to cut them into an oval. The nails need to be cut straight across to avoid ingrown nails. Once they’ve been cut, use a file to remove rough edges.

Cut Toenails Short

Toenails should be kept short. If they’re too long, they can snag on clothing or sheets and tear off. Jagged edges are more likely to cause holes in socks and lead to injuries from scratches when you have your toes in shoes or are sleeping at night and rub your feet together.

Personal care at home aides provide the assistance your dad needs with nail care. Instead of risking having nails that are too long and cutting into neighboring toes, he has the help he needs with foot care. Call a personal care at home agency to learn more about arranging grooming services.

If you or an aging loved one are considering hiring Personal Care at Home in Glendale, CA, please contact the caring staff at Home Care Help. Serving All of Los Angeles County. Call Us Today at (888) 989-7388.

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Marina Pink

Owner at Home Care Help

Marina Pink is the Owner at Home Care Help. Home Care Help is an innovator in providing services in a caring and professional manner. We have an exceptional history, spanning twenty-three years, of providing care to people in moments that matter most. It is our utmost priority to address every need in a timely manner; and, it is our goal, above all else, to give the level of support that enables our residents to have as much independence as possible with care and respect.