nail cutting

[lee smith]

i currently care for someone that has challenging behavior, autism, adhd, and profound learning disabilities. i need some help as we are not allowed to cut nails but if they do not get cut these are causing harm to staff and himself. he will not let a podiatrist cut them as he does not like strangers is there a short course out there that i could attended to get over this problem as the only ones i can find are 3 year beauty course that is no good to me thanks.

[GaryO]

Probably a stupid question but... are you allowed to file them instead?

[lee smith]

Yes allowed to file them but he wont let you as does not like the feel of it

[Myrtle]

Hi Lee and welcome. We are carers, not care workers so 'different rules' apply. I doubt we could recommend a course for you to take, but I expect some of the members have tips that might help.
If you are allowed to file but not cut, would the offer of something special after be allowed?
Or could your client do the filing him/herself, with help?

[lee smith]

My client cannot file or cut his own nails

[ladybird]

As Myrtle says, this is a carers forum and we have to come at things from a different angle lots of times.

The only other things I can suggest is contacting whoever was helping this man with hispersoan care prior to you taking over and asking them how to manage it.

Hope you find a solution.

[GaryO]

The only other things I can suggest is contacting whoever was helping this man with hispersoan care prior to you taking over and asking them how to manage it.

The OP doesn't mention anyone helping with personal care prior to his taking over but I would imagine that any previous care workers were either qualified to cut nails or ignored the rules and did it anyway.
I expect this is the reason the OP is asking for help because Health and Safety rules prevents him or anyone not qualified as a nail technician from cutting a clients nails. Stupid, I know but that's Health and Safety for you. Therefore the OP wants to be able to qualify for nail cutting to be allowed to do it.

I would have thought that by using todays safe Nail Clippers rather than scissors would be in itself pretty safe. Damn H&S and the silly laws, that's all I can say.

Sorry I can't help further, Lee.

[charles47]

Part of the problem where autism is concerned is the fact that many people on the spectrum are hypersensitive to touch. Cutting hair and nails, or shaving, can be major issues in terms of triggering challenging behaviours.

If that's part of the problem, it must have come up before and there should be someone - probably in the local LD services - who knows about this and has either prepared advice or knows of a local service that can help.

[lee smith]

I know myself that it is all down to health and safety red tape but believe it is a duty of care to do it as it protects the client from harming themselves and others I have contacted many proffesionals but just get fobbed off with the usual we will look into it

[Melly1]

Hi Lee,

as others have said we are in a different situation to you and so we don't have issues of rules and health and safety. I don't know of courses.

My thoughts are;

Does the person have family who visit who could cut his nails?

Or could you work with a sympathetic chiropodist who would let the person visit over a period of time and work towards developing trust so that he can have his nails cut?

You say the person has pmld, can they interpret photos? If so a social story might help.

In the meantime, an OT (or yourself) could plan some desensitising strategies to tackle the sensory issue - would the man brush his own nails or tolerate someone else doing this? If so, perhaps do a gardening activity so he gets grubby nails and then do the brushing activity. Or, encourage him to try activities which are sensory in nature - put his hands in the foot spa/ put hola hoops on his fingers and eat them, papier mache etc

Melly1

Also worth cutting your nails infront of him and (if not against the rules) letting him observe others having the chiropodist do their nails...