How to make a pedicure for the elderly, tips and care, did you know that elderly people's feet need even more special care?
The feet are responsible for our locomotion. Therefore, they deserve all the attention and care. This is especially true in old age, when the ability to walk also represents autonomy - often associated with quality of life for the elderly.
So, it is important to emphasize: the pedicure on the feet of elderly people cannot be done by anyone. It is recommended to have a specialized professional to avoid problems and injuries.
Next, you will learn more about how to take good care of the feet of elderly people.
What to do (or not to do) at the pedicure and when it's time to make an appointment with the podiatrist. Check out.
Over the years, it is very common to observe the thinning of the skin and even a reduction in the cuticles. Therefore, it is necessary to be very careful not to injure the feet of elderly people.
The recommended thing is to clean the cuticle only, doing your best not to take the cuticle too much or apply too much pressure in this area.
Cuticle removal with pliers is not recommended. You can clean with Podosafe that does not use sharp piercing materials.
Another frequent change that happens with aging is the thickening of the nails. It is common that, in the feet of elderly people, the nails are harder and crack more easily. This can make the cut difficult and cause pain for the patient.
As Podosafe is an emollient, it softens the nail while it is wet with the product and reduces or even eliminates pain when cutting the toenails of elderly people. In addition, you can clean the cuticles without the use of pliers or sharp piercing materials.
Watch the 2.5 minute video: https://vimeo.com/295680925
How to make a pedicure on the feet of elderly people?
If the pedicure procedure or pedicure maintenance is performed at home (by a caregiver, for example), it is very important to follow these recommendations:
- Avoid taking the cuticle or taking it as little as possible so as not to hurt your feet;
- The most recommended is to file the nail instead of making the cut. Improper cutting can result in injury or other problems;
- Do not use metal files, which can cause injuries, especially on the feet of the elderly;
- Do not use shared materials;
- In case of ringworm, it is recommended to seek a podiatrist to avoid contamination of healthy nails and not aggravate the problem.
Is it recommended to cut your nails at home?
Home shaving is not recommended, especially in the case of elderly people's feet. This is because it is much more difficult to keep instruments properly sterilized at home.
Also, when the cut is done by someone who is not an expert, it is common for it to be done incorrectly. For example, getting too close to the corners, in a rounded shape or too close to the fingers.
Thus, the ideal is to make an appointment with a podiatrist and, or perform maintenance at home only with sandpaper. This way, you avoid cuts or microcracks in the skin, which can act as a gateway for microorganisms that cause infections and inflammation.
How to keep the feet of elderly people always healthy?
In addition to monthly consultations with the podiatrist, there are some precautions that the caregiver can take at home to keep the feet of the elderly always healthy.
First, it is important to take care of the instruments used in pedicures. Whenever possible, prefer disposable options. In the case of sandpaper, for example, prefer paper sandpaper. Thus, there is no risk of cuts on the skin or contamination.
In the case of patients with ringworm, it is important to file healthy nails first, leaving the contaminated ones until the end. Discard the sandpaper at the end of the procedure to prevent the fungus from contaminating healthy nails.
Another important precaution is to keep your feet dry at all times. Moisture helps in the spread of fungi. Therefore, always dry the feet of elderly people carefully - especially between the toes. A single hand towel or disposable paper towels can be used for this.
Hydration is also very important. The feet of elderly people usually have thinner, drier skin. The ideal is to use an oil-based moisturizer, but never pass the product between your fingers.
The best time to use the moisturizer is before bed, as this eliminates the risk of slipping.
In addition to hydrating the feet, it is important to moisturize the nail to reduce the dryness that causes stiffness and thickening that cause pain when cutting the toenails of the elderly. Use nail-specific moisturizing oils.
Your podiatrist will be able to offer more details about the care to be taken, in addition to indicating the ideal product to use as a moisturizer.
When is it important to consult a podiatrist?
The feet of elderly people should preferably be treated by a specialized professional. They are more sensitive due to aging, in addition to being subject to pain.
The health of the feet in old age is extremely important for the maintenance of autonomy, a factor often pointed out as fundamental for the quality of life of the elderly.
Therefore, always consult a podiatrist. Especially in the following cases and procedures:
- Need to cut the nails: when the nails are too hard or thick for the sandpaper procedure to be enough. It is very important not to cut an elderly person's nails at home, as injuries and cracks can occur. Also, improper cutting can cause pain, infections, and other problems.
- Diabetes patients: great care with injuries is not enough when it comes to diabetic feet. This is especially true in elderly patients.
- When there is fungus, inflammation, redness, cracks or any other abnormality in the feet or nails of the elderly.
In addition, it is very important to schedule periodic consultations with the podiatrist for the elderly.
This professional is prepared to identify possible problems and solve them correctly, ensuring health and autonomy for the patient.
What's more, you can make all the necessary recommendations for the caregiver to carry out maintenance procedures at home without putting the elderly person at risk.
Schedule an assessment today. Take care of the elderly's feet, they deserve all our care and affection!
