Many people living in care homes, supported living, or receiving domiciliary care are being denied something as basic as nail care.

Providers often claim they are “not insured” or “not trained” to trim nails — even when there’s no medical need for a specialist. As a result, vulnerable people are left with overgrown, painful, or unhygienic nails. Families are expected to step in, pay privately, or wait months for NHS podiatry that may not be needed.

This is not specialist care. This is basic personal care. And denying it is both undignified and unsafe.

We are calling on the Department of Health and Social Care, the Care Quality Commission (CQC), and care providers across the UK to:

✅ Clearly recognise routine nail care as part of everyday personal care
✅ Require providers to have risk-assessed, safe processes in place
✅ Remove “insurance” as a reason for neglecting essential tasks
✅ Ensure families are not left to carry this responsibility alone

Nail care affects mobility, comfort, self-esteem, and hygiene.
It’s time to stop treating it as optional — and start treating it as essential.

Sign now to help bring dignity and basic care back to the people who need it most.