Are you an arthritis sufferer who wants to maintain your own fingernails and toenails? If so, you may want to check out my list of manicure and pedicure supplies that are designed for people with limited mobility. When I was working as a social worked in a skilled nursing home, many of my clients used these items. They found that the products helped them maintain their own independence. They were able to use the products to do their own nails as opposed to asking a nurse to help them. Here is a quick rundown on what items were most helpful:
Pump Dispensers
Based on my experience, limited mobility may make opening and closing bottles of nail care products difficult. Thankfully, many beauty supply shops sell refillable, pump dispensers that may be used by arthritis sufferers to store nail polish remover and cuticle creams. The dispensers come in all shapes and sizes. Once they are filled, the contents of the bottles may be dispensed by simply pressing down onto the tops of the containers. In most instances, the dispensers sell for $6 or less.
Padded Nail Polish Lids
Those arthritis sufferers that have a hard time holding onto a nail polish lid may want to outfit their favorite bottles of polish with a foam, hair curler or a piece of pool noodle. From what I saw at the nursing home, arthritis sufferers found it very helpful to do so. Either item will help to expand the width of the lid and serve as a non-slip grip. Pool noodles tend to sell for less than $4 each and a package of foam rollers typically costs less than $3. Both may also be used to modify free standing, fingernail polish brushes as well.
Stationary Fingernail Scrub Brush
Arthritis suffers that want to clean under their fingernails may want to consider investing in a fingernail brush that has been modified with suction cups. The fingernail brush attaches easily to any non-porous counter top. Because it gets attached to the counter top, the user doesn’t have to worry about holding onto the brush during use.
Some of my former clients asked me to create their own nail station. When they did that, I would purchase a small, plastic cutting board from the discount store and attach the fingernail brush to it along with other stationary nail care supplies. They loved it because it was easy to use and kept all their nail care supplies in one place. The modified brush typically sells for less than $12 and may be purchased through most home health care suppliers.
Hands Free Nail Polish Holder
From what I have witnessed, holding onto a bottle of nail polish can also be challenging if you have arthritis. There are ways around that problem too. There are several companies that make hands free, nail polish holders that may be mounted onto table tops or left free standing. The holders are designed to allow the pivoting of the nail polish bottle. They are available for purchase online and usually sell for less than $10.
Modified Fingernail Clippers
Cutting one’s own fingernails and toenails may also be problematic for arthritis sufferers. There is a wide array of modified nail clippers available that might help. Options include nail clippers that are mounted to surfaces with suction cups, fingernail clippers with padded handles and toenail clippers with extra long extensions. Most of the modified clippers may be obtained through home health care suppliers for $20 or less.
Modified Fingernail Files
Arthritis sufferers who want to file their fingernails may want to invest in either a fingernail filing machine or a modified fingernail file. The fingernail filing machine runs on electricity and has a wide applicator that may be outfitted with non-slip grips to make it easier to hold onto. It can be quite pricey though. Those interested in obtaining one may expect to shell out around $115 to their local beauty shop supplier. The modified fingernail file is a lot cheaper. It sells for $11 and doesn’t require electricity. It is available through home health care stores.
Padded Cuticle Nippers
Those with limited hand strength and mobility may also find cuticle nippers with paddled handles helpful. They traditionally sell for $13 and may be purchased through most major beauty supply shops. The extra padding makes the nippers easier to hold onto and operate.
Killeen Gonzalez is a former, skilled nursing home social worker. Her parents were licensed cosmetologists and owned a full service beauty salon.
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