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

Question

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

Follow

Share

I can deal with so many disgusting things, insects, body fluids, rotting garbage, road kill. But for some reason my father's feet freak me out. His toenails need to be dealt with. You have no idea. Or maybe you do. You could trim off yellow guitar picks. Who can I hire to deal with cutting his toenails? He's not able to walk and I think that he'd find a pedicure in a salon humiliating. Is a podiatrist overkill? I just can't bring myself to trim them. My mother's hands are too shaky for me to suggest that she do it. My understanding is that it is forbidden for CNAs or nurses though he's not diabetic.

Dad Hygiene

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

86 Answers

Most
Helpful Newest
First Oldest
First

1 2 3

Well, only 85 responses thus far! Yeah, they are for sure a yuck thing. Apparently this fungus issue is very common and as I recall the most effective treatment is not covered by Medicare. I'm not sure a salon would dare to tackle it...you really need not fear any embarrassment and find a podiatrist. Call around, call hospice, call a local senior center, people will know of a handful hopefully who do home visits if needed. You really don't want to mess around yourself...as you said, even CNA's can't and I'm not sure about nurses...We're lucky around here that we have a podiatrist with "walk-in" days...no appt needed, but you may have to wait. They've seen it a zillion times. Go for it!

Helpful Answer (0)

Report

Podiatrist and not a salon. They are not experts in feet. The podiatrist can check for feet health which is important in the elderly. They can have circulation and other issues. They also have skin that thins as the person ages. Very delicate. It also is good to set a baseline in case of problems later on.
Let the expert handle it. He/She has tools to handle anything. They dont in the salon.They are not allowed to do feet with nail fungus. That can actually spread to other toes and to other people if equipt is not cleaned properly. Im not saying salons dont clean, but that can hide in crevices in the foot bath motor and not be touched by the cleaning product/water.

Helpful Answer (1)

Report

Medicare pays for a foot dr. To cut toenails every 10 to 12 weeks.

Helpful Answer (1)

Report

Thank You!!
The only problem is how do I convince him to go. He refuses to go to the Dr. He is 91.

(1)

Report

Omg. I had no idea anyone else went through this exact same thing. This is just like my dad.
Long yellow toenails.
He had to increase one shoe size because of his long toenails.
Im so glad to find this site and a solution

Helpful Answer (1)

Report

That's way too long...nails are such an issue... with my mom she also let the fingernails go...that's a real tough problem to find an answer for if the person refuses to go out of the house.

(0)

Report

Check with your local COA or Area Agency on Aging. In our area there is a group of RNs that will go into an elders home and assess and care for feet, including nail trimming, every 2 months.

Helpful Answer (1)

Report

See if your local senior center has a visiting nurse that comes around to do it.

Helpful Answer (1)

Report

Seems no one has mentioned blood thinners.
My FIL cut his own nails, once, and cut himself. He was on warfarin therapy and bled so badly I took him to have stitches. He wasn't diabetic. I started taking him to a podiatrist and later his visiting nurse clipped them. Just another reason to let a doctor RX pedicure. I was a CNA at a skilled nursing facility, and we were (then-1992) allowed to file nails and clipped them in training. Well, guess what-I snipped one patient's fingernail so afterward became hyperaware of how easily an injury can happen. Since then, as a HHA, I am way too uncomfortable to cut anyone's toenails, diabetic or not!
There are all sorts of issues regarding non-diabetic circulatory inefficiency neuropathy, skin integrity that can cause more problems.
It's unfortunate that podiatric nail care is usually only covered for diabetics! I myself could really use orthopedic shoes but that's because of a pretty severe crossed toe deformity after bunion surgery failed several years ago. Now I am having trouble walking.
Anyway, a podiatist is the best way to approach managing ANY foot problems.

Helpful Answer (3)

Report

Podiatrist for sure. If he's medicare they should pay for most of it. Can Take him every 90 days i believe.Definitely if diabetic ,podiatrist --medicare covers....Needs a dr. To document care of feet.

Helpful Answer (2)

Report

Just get your elder to a podiatrist, medicare pays. Safest way to go, and often, podiatrists make home visits.

Leave it to the professionals and keep regular appointments. Soak feet in Epsom salts or apple cider vinegar between visits, keep them clean and then keep them dry and in the open air as much as possible. Topical fungal creams really do not work, but it can't hurt to use one to keep some moisture on dry toe nails a few times a week.

Keep tub and shower floors super clean. You are not alone and it is weird and gross if the nails are out of control!

Helpful Answer (3)

Report

It may already have been mentioned, but they advise not soaking feet in the case of diabetes or anything that could be damaging to the tender skin involved. I do use body or foot creams on my feet every day. If you can find a cream or oil with hyaluronic acid it's very good for the skin, and helps with neuropathy,

(1)

Report

See 1 more reply

Hell no a podiatrist isn't overkill, it's their job! I don't know about CNA's or nurses doing it, but it sounds like you are dealing with a common fungal type situation. As I understand it, in a worse case scenario (VERY extreme) it could result in the loss of the nail/toe in a diabetic...yet medicare won't cover for the fungal treatment if I am remembering it right. Around here we have a podiatrist or two who make home visits, bless them. Call your local office on aging or a home care agency to ask if they know of anyone. FYI, Medicare only covers it once every 9 weeks which is also insane. We have a local podiatrist who actually has "walk in" hours two days a week...where you just show up and wait your turn. It is an issue so many are dealing with...I mean we ALL have toe nails and they ALL grow. My mom's fingernails are an issue as well, but we are very fortunate that one of the nail people in a Salon Lofts setting is willing to categorize trimming and filing her fingernails as an "express manicure" or similar and it runs about $15-20 with tip, but I am SO grateful, as well as for the convenience that she is right next door to mom's hair wash/blow dry guy. IF all else fails, call your local hospice agency...even if Dad is not a candidate, they may know a resource.

Helpful Answer (3)

Report

We have an agency in our area called FootCare by Nurses. They are trained in foot care and usually go in every other month. They do a whole foot assessment on the 1st visit. Check with your local ASAP (Aging Service Access Point), AAA (Area Agency on Aging) or your Council on Aging and see if they have someone to recommend.

Helpful Answer (2)

Report

No podiatrist not an overkill, cost about 50.00 to 100.00 for the office with but with insurance it maybe zero, its quick and easy.

Helpful Answer (3)

Report

By all means find a podiatrist to do them. Medicare will cover the cost every 6 weeks if he has seen a primary care Dr. They will cover the cost every 4 weeks if he is diabetic. I don't have the strength to cut my mom's. We had been going to a nail tech, but she always cut long and because my mom had ingrown toe nails she never really got to the corners. Her moving was the best thing. Now I have mom on a regular basis with a podiatrist. Best her toe nails have looked in a long time. So NO, it is not an over kill.

Helpful Answer (1)

Report

It is true that the CNA‘s and nurses are not able to cut nails. In a recent visit to my mom she took off her shoes and socks and I realized her nails are growing upward and were about a quarter of an inch long. It freaked me out too. So I made an appointment for her to see a podiatrist that comes into the assisted living facility where she resides. I tried to cut them with a nail clipper but they were so tough I could barely trim them and I have a strong grip. Definitely use a professional podiatrist for cutting fingernails and toenails. Also, check the condition of the actual nails in case there is a fungus as well.

Helpful Answer (1)

Report

I have the problem on mine!
After using an over/counter product "heals in one week"
About $18 at W/M, sometimes cheaper online...
it did. I still have the problem, but now the nails
are flat and manageable.

I have been using this product for about 9 mo.
Softens the nail and skin. Allows me to file without drawing blood.

The toenails have flattened.

The package distinctly says that you can not heal this without
a prescription.

However, maintenance is a good thing.

Before, I would try to flatten the nails with filing, and would draw blood.

The quick grows up into the arch of the affected nail .

Now, my nails look "normal". Flat, no blood.
The medication apparently keeps the quick from over growing.

This also helped with arching/ingrown toenails.
Easy fix: stuff cotton under the nail so that the nail won't drive like a spear into the skin.
That is not a cutting. It is lifting the nail to train its growth.

The medication softens the nail,too. If applied too often.

The nail bed tends to dissolve. (good up to a certain point).
Then you cut back.
I can wear regular shoes now without my big toe jabbing into the upper last.

Yes, and to gross you out, I do have to dig in under the nail, but it's my nail.
I follow up later with itty bitty scissors.

And well worth the trouble.

Another skin softener is hydrogen peroxide.
When the nail loosens, using the above-mentioned product", cut back;
you have gone far enough.
I did work in a nursing home
and saw a pnt admitted with 8" curved toenails.

Somebody, somewhere, held on as long as they could.

You are not alone.

Helpful Answer (1)

Report

can you provide the name of the product you used, thanks.

(2)

Report

Just a suggestion from my nail salon gal, coconut oil is much better to moisturize feet & skin.
Mom (84) and I both have ingrown toenails, so we get pedicures every month. Mom's is so bad from years of work shoes, but They do great work and it really looks so much better. Find someone who can come to your home & pamper his feet & after a while he may come to enjoy it!

Helpful Answer (0)

Report

My dad is 89 and had the worse nails ever 4 years ago, thick, way too long (some 4 inches) some had several nails growing on top of each other, all yellow and peeling. Took him to a podiatrist no fungus, just not cut in forever. They could cut every 3 months and Medicare would pay. Took dad to my pedicure salon. He was hesitant, but we did manny/pedis together. The owners treat dad like a king and got his nails right. It’s been over 4 years now and his nails still turn yellow but they suggested Vick’s vapor rub on the nails each night, as that happens to a lot of elderly who have to take some drugs and don’t bath or move like they use to. It works. Thicker nails just happens as we get older.

Helpful Answer (2)

Report

Part of the diabetic foot care is to NOT soak them; I think it makes the skin too soft and it's easy to get too hot, which someone with nerve damage won't be aware of. Probably good to be careful of vinegar, etc. I've gotten in the habit of creaming my feet before I put my socks on--you can get foot cream but leftover hand or face cream works. Helps keep the skin from cracking.

Helpful Answer (1)

Report

partsmom: He is not diabetic.☺

(0)

Report

See 1 more reply

That is too funny that you can deal with all of the other disgusting things. I cannot handle the phleghm and body fluids etc. I can handle the toenails!

Helpful Answer (1)

Report

Can we hire you??? :-)

(1)

Report

Our local ASAP had a contract with a nursing group that goes to consumers homes and does foot care every 8 weeks.

Helpful Answer (2)

Report

We have a foot care specialist that comes to the house and is paid for by Medicare. My dad is diabetic so that might be why we get the service but it is worth checking into.

Helpful Answer (0)

Report

Once has a person has developed toenail fungus as well as thick toenails, they are extremely hard to manage. The podiatrist may give you an ointment to apply, which usually does not work. There are oral meds one can take. They say if soaked in Listerine that it MAY work.

Helpful Answer (1)

Report

Medicare pays for home visits by podiatrist

Helpful Answer (2)

Report

My experience was the podiatrist first visit was paid by Medicare. He told me only if she had diabetes (she doesn’t) would more visits be covered so I paid $50 out of pocket for subsequent visits.

(1)

Report

Podiatrist

Helpful Answer (2)

Report

My dad has disgusting yellow toenails too. He now goes to a podiatrist to have them trimmed. Well not really trimmed; more like saws and chisels! Seriously a regular toe nail clipper isnt enough because they are so thick.

Helpful Answer (3)

Report

The podiatrist is the best place to call, because they are foot specialist. To my way of thinking one should never ever go to a nail salon for feet pedicure,why? They are not doctors, not clean, can be very nasty and pass germs to everyone.

Also, if he has long thick toenails (fungus) ask the podiatrist Dr for a prescription Ciclopirox CREAM 0.77%. Apply on toenails around and under the nails in the morning and at bed time.

After using the Ciclopirox Cream, in 2-3 weeks the skin pulls away from the toenails, making it easier to clip without any pain; do this in the morning and at night. I did this for my Dad, and I also, use the cream morning and bedtime.

Helpful Answer (6)

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

Podiatrist is not overkill.

Helpful Answer (1)

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

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

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