Nail Care Tips for Seniors
Whether there’s dirt beneath them or they’re neat and polished, our nails serve more than just decorative purposes. Our nails keep the tips of our fingers and toes safe and can even reveal signs of underlying diseases, such as lung, heart, and liver disease.
As we age, we can expect our nails to change. Nails in older adults can become hard and thick, take longer to grow, and turn dull and brittle. They can also change color, turning more yellow and opaque instead of looking more translucent and shinier.
Nail care is an important aspect of personal grooming, especially for older adults. However, it’s often overlooked. Here are five nail care tips for seniors to help them keep their nails healthy and strong.
Trim Nails Frequently
Nail care starts with keeping your nails neat and trimmed. Germs, dead skin cells, and dirt love to lurk under fingernails and toenails. Keeping your nails short is the most effective way to minimize the spread of germs and infections. Aim to trim your fingernails once a week. If you have thicker nails, trim them after a warm bath or shower, or soak them in a sink filled with soapy water. This helps to soften the nails, making them easier to trim. If you feel confident, trim toenails after bathing as well.
Keep Them Clean
We’ve all grown more accustomed to proper handwashing this past year. However, do you include washing underneath your fingernails when you wash your hands? Make a habit of washing the underside of your nails with soap and water. Nail brushes make this easier to do. Purchase a nail brush to leave near your sink. Use it to clean your nails at the end of the day or after digging in the dirt or handling raw meat.
Visit a Podiatrist
Many seniors suffer from ingrown toenails because of improper toenail clipping techniques. Ingrown toenails are painful. If left untreated, they can lead to further infection. Take care of your toenails by scheduling an appointment with a podiatrist. The podiatrist can assess your overall foot health and show you how to trim your toenails to prevent ingrown toenails properly. They can even trim your nails for you during your visit. Older adults with diabetes should avoid clipping their own toenails altogether to reduce their risk of infection. Leave this task to the professional.
Give Them Fresh Air
While one method of fall prevention is to wear socks and shoes all day, it’s also important for older adults to give their toenails time to breathe. Wearing socks and shoes all the time creates the perfect moist environment for fungal infections to grow. Find time each day to expose your toenails to fresh air. Take off your socks and shoes while watching television or go barefoot to bed. Treat your feet to a warm Epsom salt foot soak.
Similarly, let your fingernails breathe as well. If you wear nail polish all the time, skip the polish between manicures or pedicures. Consider using the fall and winter season as an “off” season for nail polish.
Give Your Nails Proper Nutrients
Nail care also involves eating proper nutrients to support healthy, strong nails. If you suffer from dry and brittle nails, you may be missing vital nutrients in your diet. Improve your nails by eating more fruits, leafy greens, lean meats, salmon, beans, eggs, nuts, and whole grains. Make sure you’re getting enough calcium and vitamins A, B, and C. Talk with your primary care physician about which vitamins and supplements are right for the health of your nails.
If you are an older adult who needs assistance at home to remain safe and independent, Visiting Angels Richmond is here for you. One of our primary goals is to make aging in place a positive experience. We achieve that by letting you choose your caregiver from a group of highly trained, dedicated senior caregivers. We also work with you to create a care plan that meets your needs and fits your schedule. Your daily routine will not be disrupted to accommodate our caregivers; you oversee everything. Many of our clients find visits from our caregivers to be the highlight of their week. To learn more about our comprehensive approach to senior home care, please get in touch with us today by calling 804-353-0000.