I'm terrified of toenails, but they need care.

Question

I'm terrified of toenails, but they need care.

Follow

Share

86 Answers

Here in BC Canada anybody can see a podiatrist with out a referral. We also have Foot Care Nurses who have taken additional training. They can trim nails and look over the feet. If they see something that looks like it may need further attention, they would refer the patient on.

Here Foot Care Nurses are more likely to do home visits than podiatrists. But podiatrists may visit nursing homes or other facilities. One I worked with saw the Elders at the local Tribes office every 2 months.

Dad is not diabetic, but cannot manage to trim his nails. He refuses to let me do it, but after I paid for him to see a local Foot Care Nurse, he is willing to continue to see her a couple times a year (not frequent enough, but better than nothing). Before he saw the nurse his toenails were curling over the ends of his toes.

Helpful Answer (1)

Report

I purchased a foot spa for my dad. Who at 88 yrs old enjoyed it! He would not go
to a "nail" place. So I did his feet twice a month at his home. I used a good clipper and filing board. Also used a pumas board for the rest of his feet..not just toenails.
It worked out great and he had the best toenails and softest feet! Also would lotion and semi gently massage from feet to knee.

Helpful Answer (1)

Report

A podiatrist. Yes. and Medicare pay for it. Since my 95 year old father came home from an assisted living facility, the podiatrist comes every 9 weeks and cuts his toenails, and my 95 year old mom's and mine. We're all on Medicare.

Helpful Answer (2)

Report

I can do most things in the care of formerly both of my parents and now for my mom as my father has recently died but I am not comfortable cutting toenails. I take them (now just my mom) to a podiatrist every 2-3 months for nail trim. It is worth it. You can probably find someone who will come to the house. I have not had to do that yet. Medicare will pay for this service but you have to wait so many weeks in between.

Helpful Answer (1)

Report

You're not alone! Mom had diabetes so her toe nails looked like something out of a horror story. I was shocked when I saw them. She still expected me to cut them (her nails were way beyond a salon). After she asked, I quickly called a podiatrist who gave me the number of an RN who actually specialized in this. Better still, she traveled to people's homes. We paid $60 per visit (plus tip), but it was worth every penny! Mom got on the nurse's schedule, and she wound up coming every 3 months. Saved us so many trips to the podiatrist!

Helpful Answer (1)

Report

I don't know what state you're in, but in California it is NOT illegal for nurses or home health care workers, or anyone else for that matter, to trim the toe or fingernails of their elderly patients. Rather, some facilities have a policy against their staff doing so because they fear lawsuits in the event that the skin is cut, an infection sets in, usually due to diabetes. Having said that, caregivers and home healthcare workers may use emery boards or nail files to control nail growth. In the case of my mom, she has a toe nail fungus which she's had for 60 or more years. She used to care for her own toe nails. Now a podiatrist comes to the house about every 8 to 12 weeks.

Helpful Answer (0)

Report

Hello there bokbokbok,
It's not an overkill to make an appointment to a podiatrist. My mother's toenails aren't bad except for two nails that are a bit elevated and hard to cut. Mama doesn't have diabetes, however, I've been needing insight on care for her toes that are a bit arthritic. The Podiatrist has skills and good insight about foot care. My mother's Podiatrist is visited between 9 to 13 weeks to receive her foot care, and it's been a blessing for me. I suggest if you have the funds, please do get that help for your Dad. Glad that he has you. 😉

Helpful Answer (2)

Report

Just wanted to let you know that Medicare will pay for foot care and toe nail clipping every 6 weeks as long as the patient has seen their primary physician in the previous 6 months. This is with a podiatrist. More frequently with diabetic patient.

(0)

Report

My mom's medicare coverage pays for her to have her toenails trimmed every 9 weeks, and he can assess for ankle swelling, corns, calluses, ingrown toenails, etc while she is there. Very helpful!

Helpful Answer (1)

Report

podiatrist. It doesn't bother me, but I had a hard time with granddad's toenails because the toes had grown out with the nails, esp on the big one. And with all the flaky skin and mangled, fungus-y nails, I didn't think a salon would accept him.

Helpful Answer (0)

Report

I forgot about this. That’s what happened to my Mom too. I kept asking the salon to cut her toenails shorter and they showed me that they had fused.

(0)

Report

Hi. I have the same problem in reverse with my son. He won't cut my toenails and I have bad arthritis and can no longer cut my own. To me, saloons are not so much humiliating as they are not always careful and I don't really need my toes polished and they charge the same whether I get them polished or not. So what I do is visit my podiatrist whenever they get bad. I also have an ingrown toenail so this way I get rid of two birds with one stone. Good luck.

Helpful Answer (1)

Report

Go to a Podiatrist. It's covered by Medicare for something like every two months.

Helpful Answer (3)

Report

In my town the Caring Nurses Association (formerly Visiting Nurses Association) offers foot care by specially trained nurses. I can take my mom to their office ($35) or I can arrange for someone to come to my mom's apartment ($45) to do foot care every other month. It's wonderful service - takes about 45 minutes - and relatively affordable for the benefit and relief it gives my mom. Her feet are in very bad shape due to hammer toes, bunions, missing toenails, terrible calluses, etc. She always says "I feel like I'm walking on cloud 9" when they get done. And the nurse (she's had the same person for 10+ years) is like a friend now.

Helpful Answer (0)

Report

My mom has a fungus, so her toes look rotten, they are to thick to clip, so I use a "Pedi perfect" it won't cut the skin, I use it like a sander, its battery operated, make sure you put a towel or newspaper under the foot, works great you don't have to worry about cutting too short or cutting the skin. their about $12-$14 at Walmart, Target, online.....

Helpful Answer (2)

Report

Which Pedi Perfect do you have? There are various ones when I looked online. I would like to purchase one for my mom. THANKS

(0)

Report

Podiatrist, YES! I’ve been caring for my 95 year old mom for years, and just recently took her to a podiatrist. SO worth it. I wish I had done it years earlier!

Helpful Answer (2)

Report

My husband became paralyzed and obviously cannot reach his toes. Toenails are hard to deal with. I brought him to a very nice Asian salon where they said he could sit in his wheelchair and would cut his nails for $15.00. It would not be a pedicure just a toe clipping. In the past I paid $75.00 for a podiatrist to come to the home. It's not worth that amount of money.

Helpful Answer (2)

Report

Podiatrist will be able to cut the nails.
As I understand the visit is covered although I do not know how many or how often.
Another option would be get him to a person that would do a pedicure. A place that does Mani-Pedi's might not be good but if you get your nails done ask if they would make a visit to do one.

Helpful Answer (1)

Report

Take him to a podiatrist. His dr should be able to refer him to one. I take my FIL to the local hospital about once every 4-6 weeks. His insurance covers the visits. It’s important to have feet and nails looked at by a professional vs a salon visit. Many medical issues can be caught

Helpful Answer (3)

Report

My husband goes to a podiatrist. Medicare will pay for toe nail trim every 61 or more days. Works great for him.

Helpful Answer (3)

Report

Foot care is important and a podiatrist is the place you need to take him. It's what they do and they can catch any problems early to prevent amputations and infections. If you were here in Salt Lake City I'd recommend our favorite Dr Scott Clarke at the Advanced Foot and Ankle clinic. He was a miracle worker for my husband with a stubbed toe that became life threatening. Lost all of his toes, but saved his foot when other doctors were saying they would amputate below the knee.

Helpful Answer (1)

Report

Mom didn't have any health issues that would prevent her from going to a salon, so once she was unable to take care of her own feet, she and my daughter had a standing date at the salon for a pedicure. I made sure that the technician was conservative in her approach and that the chair sink set-up was accessible for her. Some salons require you to be a bit of a mountain goat to climb up and into the chair others are more friendly to the disabled. I also made sure that the salon used sterile technique such as lined sinks and sterilized equipment and mom bypassed the nail polish part. Mom enjoyed some of the extras too like a paraffin treatment or warm oil treatment. For Christmas, Santa brought her a cute pair of wool fleece boots that she would slip on after the salon treat. Mom looked forward to a pedicure and lunch with her granddaughter; we only wished we had started this lovely tradition sooner! I guess your dad might not feel humiliated or mind, if the pampering feels good. Paraffin treatments are fabulous for those who suffer arthritis. The salon technicians who mom and daughter went to were very sweet and respectful to my mother who was in her late 80s. Whether you choose the salon route or a podiatrist, you or his CNA or nurse can help him "maintain" with a little emory board filing and foot washes in a basin in between appointments.

Helpful Answer (0)

Report

Last pedicure I had the lady beside me brought in her own tools - so I might try it from now on - something to think about

(1)

Report

See 1 more reply

Check with your local seniors centre - our has once a month specialists come in - they probably will advice you

If your dad's toes are really bad try finding a chiropodist [sp?] - mine also does orthotics, removes corns etc too

Helpful Answer (2)

Report

Phone call to a podiatrist. Easy peasy. They can check for any problems and help clear them up. The aged foot might be more than a manacurist can handle. Very thick nails, and very frail thin skin. They can also - (as they should) refuse to work on toes that have a fungus. It is quite common. It can get passed to the person's other healthy toenails, and be spread to other people. Manicurists are taught to recognize nail issues, but not trained to diagnose and treat them. Good luck.

Helpful Answer (4)

Report

Podiatrist fees are covered by Medicare. Make an appointment, or if in the hospital ask the doctor to call a Podiatrist in for treatment.

Helpful Answer (3)

Report

I can't do nails either. Cut one of my own toes. My aunt went podiatry first, but now I take her in wheelchair to where she gets her hair cut. Same lady does the pedicure. Soaking feet first helps immensely with cutting the nails, and she loves the foot massage. Besides, it helps with circulation.

Helpful Answer (4)

Report

I hated to trim my Mom's fingernails and toenails. For any personal jobs that disgusted me, I learned to not think, just do.

Beforehand I didn't think or imagine doing them. I blanked my mind, gathered the tools, and just did it...without looking too close. Then I learned to do them more often so they weren't so awful. Then I got used to it. Then I noticed that Mom had really beautiful, young-looking hands and her feet weren't that bad either. Then I took pride in knowing she couldn't horribly scratch herself in her sleep with her shorter fingernails and her toes lay where they should and Mom was more comfortable.

Helpful Answer (3)

Report

Medicare/Insurance does cover podiatrist’s. Nail salons should be avoided at all costs, especially if your father has diabetes like mine. One wrong clip could lead to all sorts of issues and the possibility of him getting a fungus far outweighs taking that risk. I actually had no idea that podiatrists were covered until I mentioned taking my dad to a nail salon and my aunt had a fit!!!! She told me about the podiatrist visits being covered. I had to go through his PCP but it was as worth it. Not only does the podiatrist clip his toenails every two-three months, but he can tell a lot about his overall health by looking at the feet. He also referred my dad to an orthopedic for special diabetic shoes which are also covered. One new pair each year. Hope this helps!

Helpful Answer (4)

Report

Yes, podiatrist is the best Professional to do it! I have my dad’s cut every 3 mos. You didn’t say where he lives but my dad’s independent living facility had someone come in every few mos to do that even though there was a salon on site. My mom’s memory care facility had the same thing. Just better for a professional. That way they can keep an eye on any infections or issues that are going on. If he still lives at home you might have to hire a handicapped van to take him if you can’t.

Helpful Answer (2)

Report

I operate a Mobile business where I provide in-home toenail trimming, Pedicure and Manicure services to Local North Carolina resident's.

You are right, CNA's are not legally able to clip the toenails of their client. This has to be done by a Licensed Pedicurist or Podiatrist.

You can google "Mobile Foot care" Or "Mobile Pedicurist/Podiatrist" for your area and see what comes up.

Hope this helped you out.

Helpful Answer (6)

Report

You business for what you do and see, deserve a medal and/or a National Day.

I've seen what ya'll deal with when you're going thru Cosmetology school! People should spend a day or two when the nursing homes bring their residents to you for practice. I've seen some extremely disgusting feet.

Howard Hughes hands/feet looked manicured compared to what these students have to put up with.

(2)

Report

Podiatrist is not overkill.

Helpful Answer (1)

Report

Bok,
Don't feel bad, everybody has their "gross out".

A podiatrist would be the one to choose. Especially if he has nail fungus that turns the nails thick and yellow. These are very hard to cut.

You are right, a CNA is not allowed to cut hair or nails in all the companies I know of.

Helpful Answer (0)

Report

1 2 3

This question has been closed for answers. Ask a New Question.

I'm terrified of toenails, but they need care.

86 Answers

Recent Questions

Popular Questions

Related Questions