Who is responsible for foot care?

thanks guys. i will ask at her il facility and her pc.

Chiming I’m on this. My mom had her nails trimmed by RN with HH. More of maintenance. But she still had to have podiatrist trim them every now and then. She wasn’t diabetic. HH wouldn’t allow CNA or even LVN to do it. But the CNA trimmed her finger nails.
For her 95 bd her sister who was around 92 at the time and BIL 94 came to mothers party. About a 5 hr ride. Cousin drove.
Uncle brought his dramel I think he called it. A kind of electric grinder. There the two sisters were with their feet up in recliner. Uncle busy trimming their nails.
My aunt (91) went to podiatrist to have hers trimmed. They were concerned about PAD. Did a test that showed her pulse was low in legs.
So all kinds of things for the podiatrist to do.

Presuming, that Home Health comes to the home, cant do anything to feet either.. Is that correct.. Ty

"It always amazes me that Americans go to podiatrists for routine toenail care."
cwillie, if you have diabetes it is drummed into you to take extra care of your feet. Even "routine" care can be disastrous if it goes wrong.

More than 80 percent of amputations begin with foot ulcers. Wow! My toes are ugly but I'd sure like to keep them if I can. And, as ff says, it gets harder and harder to do proper foot care our selves as we age.

Even Medicare knows that paying for podiatrist care 5 times a year, and paying for one pair of therapeutic shoes, is way way less expensive than 1 amputation and followup care.

Here is what Mayo Clinic (well-respected in the US) says about diabetic foot care:
"Don't remove calluses or other foot lesions yourself. To avoid injury to your skin, don't use a nail file, nail clipper or scissors on calluses, corns, bunions or warts. Don't use chemical wart removers. See your doctor or foot specialist (podiatrist) for removal of any of these lesions."

I'd be seriously surprised if this advice isn't given to diabetics in all countries.

Does this help explain why podiatrists often have full waiting rooms?

I am starting to understand why as we start to age we need some one to clip our toe nails. I am finding at my age, early 70's, that I can no longer swing my leg up onto the sink [would fall over now if I did] to do the clipping. Can't even sit on the bed to bend into a pretzel.

Finally found an one-step stool that I can sit on and bend over [with my weight gain THAT wasn't easy] to reach the nails. I found best time to cut is right after a shower when the nail itself is soft.

One thing I have noticed, if I use a certain nose spray for allergies, my finger nails and toe nails grow faster. Oh great... [sigh]

A good podiatrist doesn't just "snip, snip". She or he checks for pedal pulse, skin integrity, both between the toes, top and bottom of the feet, ankles, and even up the lower legs if they are skin issues.

After searching past the snip, snip guys, we finally found one who really is top notch.

Staceyb, in Canada Podiatrists do a lot of nail trimmings as part of diabetic foot care, they can also prescribe medications, perform nail procedures and other minor surgical procedures. But you can also have a Foot Care nurse provide diabetic foot care.

cwillie, there is much money to be made trimming toenails. Podiatrist charge around $65.00 per visit and see up to 12 patients an hour. They do not have the same overhead as a GP. The Foot Care nurse I use for Dad charges $40.00, can do house calls (I have not asked about the cost) and sees perhaps 2 patients an hour. I just wish I could get Dad to see her more regularly.

One of the podiatrists I used to work for had been a Major in the US Army. The one I liked best and had treat my own feet, is a wonderful woman who cares deeply for her patients.

Here (ON CA) it is an RN or RPN with 90 hours of extra foot care training, unless of course they identify something that needs extra attention.

Oh I don't think it's an "American" thing, it's a "Diabetic foot" thing! Older folks with Diabetes Need to have their feet checked routinely, to guard against infection, and poor circulation which comes with Diabetes, and even "nipping" a cuticle put that patients at risk for serious infection that could be difficult to clear up, if not done properly, hence the Podiatrist recommendation.

As an healthy American, I've never seen a Podiatrist in my life, so no need to stereotype! I'm sure Canadian Diabetics see Podiatrists too! Lol!

It always amazes me that Americans go to podiatrists for routine toenail care, and that these professionals go to school for 8 years and then willingly spend the majority of their days doing nothing more challenging than trimming nails.

Medicare pays for toenail cutting every 10 weeks, not hands. Caring facilities staff are not allowed to cut toenails because of infection. It should be podiatrist.

Yes. Her pc should be checking her feet, and sending her to someone who can address her problems.

There are signs in each of examining rooms at my clinic that say, "If you are diabetic please take off your shoes. Help us to remember to check them."

Once she is set up with a podiatrist she will probably be examined and nails trimmed every 9 weeks.

When my mother was in a nursing home, they had a podiatrist who came around on a monthly basis to trim nails - the nurses, CNAs and staff were not allowed to do it.

I see your mom lives in an Independent Living facility. My mom's facility had a podiatrist who would come in to treat residents. You might see if your mom's place has a similar program.

Her doc should check her feet and refer her to a podiatrist.