Why should families check nail care?
Older adults often can’t trim their own nails, and in a busy facility nail care can slip down the list. Families are well placed to notice. You see your parent regularly, you know what is normal for them, and you can raise concerns kindly and early. For more on why it matters, see why nail care matters for seniors in nursing homes.
What should you look for on a visit?
A quick, gentle look at hands and feet tells you a lot. With your parent’s permission, check:
- Length. Are fingernails long enough to scratch skin or collect dirt? Are toenails long or curling?
- Cleanliness. Is there dirt under the nails?
- Edges. Are there sharp or jagged edges that catch on clothing or bedding?
- Thickness. Are toenails thick and hard, and have they been trimmed recently?
- Comfort. Does your parent wince when shoes go on, or avoid walking?
What signs should you raise with nursing staff?
Some things are not for a family member or a nail technician to handle. Tell the nurse on duty if you notice:
- Redness, swelling, warmth or drainage around a nail.
- Cuts, sores or broken skin on the feet or hands.
- Nails that look very discolored, crumbling or lifted.
- Pain your parent didn’t have before.
This is especially important if your parent has diabetes or circulation problems. Our guide to nail care for residents with diabetes explains why.
What questions can you ask the facility?
- Who handles my parent’s fingernails and toenails: nursing staff, a podiatrist or an outside provider?
- How often is nail care done, and is it on a schedule?
- Does my parent’s care plan say anything about foot or nail care?
- Is there a podiatrist who visits, and how is my parent referred?
- If there is an outside nail care provider, are the technicians licensed and insured, and how are tools disinfected?
- How would I be told about a concern with my parent’s hands or feet?
Our guide on who usually cuts toenails in a nursing home explains the usual arrangements.
What if nail care isn’t happening?
Start with a calm conversation with the nurse or unit manager. Ask what the plan is and when the next nail care is scheduled. If the facility doesn’t have a regular arrangement, you can ask whether an on-site nail care program is available, or suggest one. Rules on who may provide nail care vary by facility and by state regulations, so the facility decides.
How can families support good nail care?
Share what you know: your parent’s preferences, favorite polish colors, anything that upsets them, and whether they have always kept their nails a certain way. For a parent living with dementia, this information is especially useful. See our guide to gentle nail care for residents with dementia.
How we approach it
Skilled Nail Care provides on-site manicures and pedicures through senior living communities, on a regular schedule and within each resident’s care plan. Families can ask their facility about arranging visits. You can see all of our nail care services for senior living.
Frequently asked questions
Can I trim my parent’s nails myself?
Ask the nursing staff first. Their care plan may call for a nurse or podiatrist, especially for toenails.
How often should nails be trimmed?
It varies by person. Many facilities use a weekly to monthly schedule. Ask what your parent’s plan is.
Can I book nail care directly for my parent?
On-site programs usually run through the facility, so start by asking the facility what is available.
This article is general information, not medical or legal advice. Skilled Nail Care provides nail technicians, not medical providers. Concerns about a resident’s health belong with nursing staff or the resident’s podiatrist.