Seniors face a host of challenges due to various health conditions. All the same, due to limited mobility, they may also find it difficult to maintain personal hygiene in some cases. Trimming their nails can be hard for them too. More so, elderly persons have hard nails that they might find hard to cut through.
Due to their deteriorating health, they also may not be able to hold small tools such as nail clippers between their fingers because of conditions like arthritis. Plus, they may not be able to bend over for reaching their toenails as they become older.
So, here we have listed some tips for them to follow as part of their nail-care measures.
Tips for elderly persons on how to maintain nail hygiene
Though maintaining nail hygiene is daunting for some seniors, yet they have to keep their nails clean. Otherwise, they could be plagued with bigger problems.
To help them, we have listed some tips for them, as part of their nail care measures.
- Trim nails after soaking your feet in warm water. The nails of elderly persons are hard and for softening their nails, they are advised to immerse their feet in warm water for a couple of minutes. In the process, they can also keep their feet clear of potential irritants like dirt and microbial elements, thereby, reducing their risk of contracting infections.
- Make sure to keep your hands and feet dry. Always dry yourself after taking a bath. Doing so is important because any leftover moisture can result in infections due to the build-up of microbes over time.
- Do not touch your cuticles, for they play an integral role in extending protection to your feet. They act as a protective shield by sealing the portion at the base of the nail. And if you remove them, the protection seal breaks while leaving you prone to a host of infections.
Features to consider when purchasing nail clippers for seniors
When you’re buying nail clippers for seniors, you must consider some important aspects before making your final selection. In the following details, we have listed the aspects for you to ponder upon before your toenail clipper purchases for your loved one.
Design
The design of the nail clipper makes for an important consideration. The nail clippers should be safe, convenient, and more importantly, easy to use sans any help from others.
Quality
Always go with the best-quality nail clippers, for they rate high in durability and can serve you for many years to come.
Size
Most seniors have delicate hands, due to which they may not have a strong grip on items. Even so, you must choose nail clippers that are of reasonable size, so they are easily maneuverable by the elderly individuals.
Stability
In nail clippers, the sturdy ones help to prevent accidents, so opting for them is a good idea.
Material
Go with nail clippers that are composed of high-grade materials, for they are not only rust-free but also are easy to clean.
