My 85-year-old mom's right hand is clenched so that one fingernail cuts into her palm. I have trimmed it as short as I can. Any ideas?

Good advise here about using a rolled washcloth as a pad. Be sure to wash twice a day maybe using an adult bath wipe and apply a thick barrier cream to protect her skin.

That's a... VERY complacent doctor.

Has a physical therapist had a look at your mother's hand? I mean, the doctor may be right for all I know but it's worth asking. Any improvement would be better than none.

Gloves ok will save the day. My son put a belt around my wrist I am going thru withdrawal from going cold turkey no more smoking no more drinking sleep on floor for right now, so my son still has to work 7 days a week but he will stop on lunch break to check on mommy, and get ready off work check on me always bring goodie’s and sandwich out of his pocket, u c I cannot live by myself so my son always check on me but no compensation for helping mom. Jean skinner.

Put a rolled up facecloth or clean rolled handkerchief in her clenched hand. She obviously has a contracture. You will be able to gently open her clenched hand enough to inset the clean cloth. Also make sure to clean inside the hand and dry it. You can use a blow dryer if needed. Try to put some Vaseline or a and d ointment inside the hand to protect it from breakdown. Good luck

Boy, this took me way back.

I remember the children's librarian in our town had a permanently clenched hand due to polio. She always had a handkerchief stuffed into that hand, and looking back now, I wonder if it was for that reason. She had a variety of pretty colored handkerchiefs that she changed out every day.

Give that a try.

Simple small soft cloth rolled and inserted in the clenched hand both helps with the contracture and prevents the nail cutting as well as a kind of fungal "skin rot" that can take place. Do know you must change it at least a few times a day, wash and massage the skin. Best to you.

My husbands right hand stayed clenched after having a massive stroke. Any time I had an issue with his fingernails cutting in to his hand, other than trimming his nails, I would often just roll up a cotton wash cloth and put it in his clenched hand, and it would stay there until I or he would remove it. That would also allow some air circulation as well, so his hand wouldn't get so stinky from being held tightly closed.
Perhaps you can try that.

Maybe some physical therapy after a consult with a hand specialist can prevent further deterioration.

My husband injured his hand/wrist after a fall, and if I had listened to the PCP he would not be able to have use of his hand now. As it is, the orthopedic specialist said he waited too long for real help. But it has improved and he can use it.

Do nothing, and the elderly can get permanent contractures.
I am reading where Botox can be used.

Place a roll of soft padding in her hand. The kind sold at pharmacies to pad a soft cast.
Or use moleskin to pad the hand.

Buy or make a cotton fingerguard. They come in colors at Walmart.
To make a fingerguard, cut the same finger from a glove, cotton preferred.
Or a nice, soft leather.

You can also buy rubber finger cots at drug stores, office supply stores.

Get a second opinion other than a PCP. At least an orthopedist or plastic surgeon hand specialist. I am thinking a Prolia injection into the hand-type of therapy.

Can you unclench it? If so, put a bandaid either on her finger or across her palm where it cuts in.