Any advice on cutting toenails of person with dementia that is extremely jumpy?

Should be done by a podiatrist.

Yes that's what I thought
We used to take her for a mani pedi
She wouldn't get out of the car the last time. No amount of bribing worked

Thanks

Can you find a podiatrist who will come to the home?

I wouldn't normally suggest this, but if the toenails aren't clipped and the feet examined regularly by a podiatrist, complications can arise.

So I would ask her internist or PCP about a light, short term tranquilzing drug which wouldn't compromise her ability to walk. Then perhaps she could get in to see a podiatrist.

As Babalou suggests, there might also be a home treating physician. Google home care physicians or podiatrists, then contact them to see if they would do in-home treatments.

We have the best podiatrist with whom we've ever treated. And b/c she's the best, her assistants do use electrical equipment to sand down the nails, so that could be an issue if this person's toenails need that kind of attention.

Dad has the same problem.We could not find a traveling podiatrist. ( make sure that they are covered by your insurance) We were going to a podiatrist and Dad did not like it when he was there so I have started doing it myself. I tell him I am going to cut his toenails and he does want to say it hurts! YEs, he can be jumpy. I just keep talking while I am doing it and some how I am successful. Make sure you have both kinds...large and small clippers. I also have him sit on the bed with his feet on the floor. Even if you only get a few done at a time you are making progress. Also, even though they will complain at the podiatrist an ice cream cone afterwards makes it all better!!!

I perceive it is premature to jump to solutions without attempting to understand her resistance to a pedicure. I suggest you find out if she had pedicures as a young adult. If she didn't, then she might not understand what you are proposing to do.
Also, she might have experienced a painful incidence when she was very young when someone tried to cut her toenails. Perhaps she believes that will happen again--even though it won't.
If she has her hair cut at a place that also offers mani/pedis, then you might consider that option. It might be less frightening than taking to a manicure place.

I agree, toenail clippings should be done by a podiatrist who can assess any other issues other than long nails. If one is diabetic, it is crucial to have this done by a doctor.

Susan61, there is no need to every cut their toenails. I took care of my Moms THICK nails for 8 years. All you do it take an emery board and very gently file them down. I filed in the downward direction , top of toe -down. Very easy . You can do it when they are sleeping or with music on, actually its barely noticeable. My mom would pull her foot away some times but it worked fine. She used to have a podiatrist at the daycare do it for $40 and they were only cut straight across and sharp still, useless I thought. get some different strength files, it works fine. Good Luck, you definitely cannot hurt her this way.

Remember soaking the feet first is not just to clean the feet.
It also softens the nails and makes cutting and filing easier.
Even doing my own I always do them right after a bath or shower. Makes the whole process easier and skin smother.
As a retired cosmetologist, I've done many pedicures.

Definetly soak feet first. I use an epsom salt with peppermint oil soak that i made. Definetly takes foot odor away and softens toenails. I clip what i can but for his thick nails i use an emory board. It is so relaxing he actually falls asleep while i do this. The music idea is great too...nice and relaxing. Good luck!

Just took my Mo to a podiatrist. Medicare will pay for toenails to be cut every ten weeks. Mom usually has a balance of $11 after supplimental pays their share.

If u don't cut toenails correctly you can cause ingrown toenails. Nursing facilities don't allow staff to do them. Therebi usually a podiatrist on staff. Bad infections can occur too.

Try soaking her feet in Epson salts (it is good for the whole body too!) to soften and make the feet feel great, then file with a good emery board.

I did my moms for years with a nail file too, worked just fine. I sat here and laughed with cutting a few nails at a time, doing while sleeping then the ice cream cone. That is exactly how I did my kids nails!

We found a a home visiting podiatrist thru our GP doctor. Many who treat the homebound (you don't really have to be homebound and fully covered by Medicare) also visit nursing homes. Call your local nursing home and ask for the name of their foot doctor. I was in nursing home visiting my uncle when the foot doctor came in and he was the one that told me to try that. Also if you are receiving any home nursing visits, they usually know podiatrists who make home visits.
I would make a big thing of doing my moms feet. Let's soak in nice smelling warm water, put rubber gloves on and soap up your hands and this is a good way to clean between their toes too. Then I would crèam up her feet and legs, give her a massage. Then I would give her a taffy while i polished her nails. Hair dryer on cool setting gets the nails dried quick. If it wS cold in the house, I would put moms feet on a heating pad. Obviously, those days I didn't get too much done around the house but it was time I spent with my mom so I didn't care if the lunch dishes were still out when it was time to cook dinner. One thing having my children and taking care of my mom taught, don't sweat the cleaning, it will still be there when you are done! Good luck

Just for the record, i DOUBLE spaced my paragraphs while typing on my phone, oh well
💅👣

Like everyone else suggested, I would highly recommend a podiatrist. I think many people would be scared of someone cutting into the nailbed, this would be very painful and enough to make anyone jump. I also agree with the poster to mention that if the toenails aren't maintained, it will cause complications, and one of those complications is when they wear shoes

I just wanted to add that my dad had been having his toenails cut by the same podiatrist for about a year. I then decided to ask if she could do my moms toenails too, watched my moms face while she was getting toenails cut and saw her grimace. Then watched my dad when it was his turn and he did the same thing. Afterwards I asked both of them if it hurt, they both replied yes. I asked dad why he never said anything and he said I thought it was suppose to hury. Needless to say, she was not invited back. Wanted to add one last thing, my parents never had to pay anything additional then what medicare covered. The doctor only ever asked for the medicare numbers and not the supplemental coverage info. Guess each state is different.

There is no need for a podiatrist as long as she's willing to allow you to do the toenails. I agree with you about the filing. I am diabetic as well and I only use clippers when the nails has grown too long and need to be cut before filing. A battery operated file gets it down quickly and you can get them for about $10. It's much faster but a regular metal file can work as well.

Take her to a podiatrist..medicare will cover..

A podiatrist comes to my Mom's Day program at the Senior Ctr.. Check into that ..

I started to go to a podiatrist but felt she cut my nails too short. I also had a $40 co-pay for a specialist visit even though Medicare covered it. Decided to give up as long as I can still reach my feet.

Agree with all other advice. Go to the podiatrist if diabetic or any other skin problems. Use clippers or a file otherwise whatever works for you.

Now the cat is another problem. Now she is trained i can roll her on her back on my lap and cut all the claws

If someone is being extremely jumping as what described here, it's not a very good idea to tackle this task on your own. Doing so would risk injury too either of you, not too smart!
Think of a wild horse for a moment. As long as that horse is jumpy, you're not going to get anything done with that horse, and you're certainly not going to do any foot grooming on that horse. The same goes for very jumpy people. I personally would never even touch someone that jumpy, not even if they showed any hint of it. This is where trouble can start, and this is why I would never touch them if they showed any sign of discomfort like you're describing here. The person is scared, don't force yourself on them, it'll only scare them even more. If they become any more jumpy me to the point of running from you, they won't even trust you. This is where the pros come in, and I'd definitely rely on them to know how to handle this kind of problem. I'm not going to guarantee that every podiatrist is going to want to even touch this kind of person if there but scared if on them to know how to handle this kind of problem. I'm not going to guarantee that every podiatrist is going to want to even touch this kind of person if they're that scared. If you force yourself on them, they could fight you physically, and you don't want to get kicked and sustained serious injury, it's just not worth risking your safety or the safety of that person. I would hate for you to get badly hurt only to have to explain it to the hospital, this would be very hard to explain, because yes, you would definitely have some explaining to do if you got hurt that bad by that person

This is THE sorest subject here at home with mom.
Mom has had---all her life---the thickest nails on earth. (ha!)
Tendency to ingrown... YES!
Diabetes...NO.
---------------------------------------------------------
I went to Sally´s Supply and studied what they had to cut toe nails, since now, it is my job.
The attendant was SO helpful!!!
Got the Black Emery Board for ACRYLIC (fake) nails, and it works WONDERS!!!
One time we file down (no fuss, TV on her favorite show), brightest lamp I own over, and having soaked on epsom, lavender, and tea tree for 1 hour. YES 1 hour.
The beauty person told me that if I do not soak them very well
they will split length wise and bleed = Emergency Room..........
=================================
Next time it is time to trim. Bought the strongest clippers, stainless steel, with rubberized grips on the handle. I need BOTH HANDS to do the big toe nails... and my hands tremble from the force I have to exert. NO PAIN.
Mom has for decades put a small long piece of cotton, soaked in perfume (alcohol), underneath the big toe nail, pushing the corners under the corners of the nail with a metal nail file. WONDER OF WONDERS, she gets NO ingrown nails EVER!!! Please please believe me it works. Please try it. It will not hurt, and have everything to gain.
Sometimes I play one of her favorite DVD's of Frank Sinatra... haha, and she almost..............almost...............forgets what we are doing. Not quite.
==================================
No, she never ever ever had a pedicure. Never. And *for the record*, the only pedi I ever got myself personally was neat while it lasted, but the toe nail fungus I brought home lasted 3 years to go away.
====================================
My acupuncturist suggested a daily soak in vinegar, pure vinegar.
====================================
What really worked was applying tea tree oil every night for 3 years........

Well, it is about that time. What time? That time. To stop. Hehehe. Chin up you all wonderful caregivers, we are invincible!!! Oh, I suggested the motorized filing..........mom told me I was nuts! hahahahah!!!!
M88

you can buy a miniature pair of electronic wire cutting dykes on ebay for 8 bucks . they are great for excizing ingrown nails . real sharp and pointy . you can wiggle the tips in gently till you get to the proper depth then make the cut . toenail clippers are stone age by comparison . my mom was diabetic and doc always inspected her feet and never had a comment about the nails .

Make sure you get a GOOD podiatrist. My mother's was dirty-looking and had a dirty whirlpool tub that she put her feet in. I was appalled when I saw it and him, but mom did not care because it was socialization. Jeez Pezzy!

ever see the ad on tv going right now for this electric file that won't cut nails or skin? Sold at WalMart here. Don't see why it cannot be used on toenails too!

danabear: Spot on great idea!

There may be very good foot care products on the market, but the biggest problem right now is getting a very jumpy person to even trust you, and when they have dementia, the problem is going to be even more challenging. This is why you really want to first work on getting the person to even trust you before trying to do any foot care because they can easily kick you and hurt you pretty bad. I personally would first work on the trust issue before anything else. Once you get past that barrier, take it very slow and go easy. Again, this may actually have to be performed by a professional who knows how to handle these types of cases, because without first getting past the trust issue, you'll never get anything done because you won't even get anywhere close to them. If the person is already jumping, take the hint and don't force things along because again, you'll only make matters worse by forcing the issue

Since she's jumpy maybe start out doing foot massages.
Again soaking feels good and when she gets use to the
massages slowly introduce her to cutting. All pedicurest
soak the feet first to make the nails easier to cut and sluff
off dead skin.sounds like you will have to gain trust first like
someone suggested. If she starts looking forward to the massages
then the cutting should be easier.

Sandra, I think you're discovered a good approach - calm her down first with some TLC, then segue into the trimming. Great insights!