To think some people can't just skip work because of the snow.

[NameChangedAndForgotOldName]

My grandads carers and nurses haven't been for 2 days even though he's in his last few weeks and my grandma is exhausted.
I've been to help but I'm not a nurse, neither is my grandma.

They live on a main road that's been cleared, I drove there.
I do understand that the carers and nurses might be stuck in their homes but shouldn't the carers service/nurses have found someone else to pop in and do the things we can't?

No, family should do them.

Have you been in contact with the service providers and asked what the issue is?

I know when I worked in homecare during the 2010 snow we were desperately short of staff and had to prioritise those most in need, usually people who lived alone with no family who could call in. We did however communicate this with the service users who were missing out and tried our best to get to everyone.

Yes they should and I'd complain and take this further.

In some cases the Military, or Police have got Nurses to were they were needed.

Is your Grandma saying that they can manage, though?

It depends where they live, whether they drive, whether their children were at school etc.

Remember also that carers are usually very low paid - it might be worth a two hour journey through snow for £70k a year but for 30 mins at £10 per hour - no - I wouldn't be doing it either.

Because you could do it and your grandmother was there your grandfather is lower risk than someone who is totally alone. They should have priority.
Terrible for you and your family. I am in a similar position myself - but not as black and white as it seems.

Because you could do it and your grandmother was there your grandfather is lower risk than someone who is totally alone. They should have priority.

^Completely agree with this

Carers don't get paid for their travel time so think about that too.

The easy stuff, washing him etc we can do.
He's gone from carers 4 times a day and 3 overnights to nothing.
It's the medical things and things we might miss on a man that's dying I'm worried about, just 1 carer just popping in and checking him over would be something

Care agencies are so understaffed there probably isn’t anybody else who can just pop in!

It’s of course not a great situation for your family to be in but if I was a care assistant on minimum wage I probably wouldn’t be putting my life in danger to go out in a red warning or pay for taxis if I couldn’t get my car off the drive.

What do you expect people to do, drive in dangerous conditions, leave their children (with their closed schools) at home? Bear in mind carers have to drive around all day seeing different clients, so they would be rushing round on icy roads, or worse, possibly getting stuck overnight. You are being unreasonable.

I think most carers get paid less than £10 per hour closer to £8.

No, family should do them.
yes because everybody has family within walking distance available.

But what if their kids' schools are closed and they don't have any other childcare?

Granddads Road May well be clear, but if the carers have to get out of a village or down a farm track to get to their nearest main roads then maybe they can not get into work.
I’m sure the care agency doesn’t have an endless supply of nurses and carers, but as you can drive to your grandparents maybe you could take relatives over to help your Nan.
The weather has been horrendous for everyone, we all have had to make sacrifices.

A carer in Glasgow collapsed and died in the snow whilst attempting to walk to a client's home on Wednesday.

She had two children.

If it's not safe, it's not safe. Nobody should be expected to risk their life for £7.50 an hour.

just 1 carer just popping in and checking him over would be something

You cannot magic up people to 'pop in'. And just so you know, your grandfather's carers, they do not just pop in. They drive to numerous clients, usually in their own cars and are 9 times out of 10 not paid for travel time between clients, so they often wind up earning less than min wage. So if you thought someone was going to risk their car that's their livelihood, their health and lives, leave their children who are off from school, you were sadly mistaken.

The agencies are understaffed for a very good reason.

Oh Saucy, I hadn't seen that. Poor woman.

It depends where you live - we have 40cm of snow in Glasgow and even if you'd wanted to you would not have been going anywhere on Thursday or Friday without a 4x4. No public transport either, it's been chaos.

If however you're in an area which was not affected by a red/amber warning and just has 2cm of snow then yes, ask questions.

Its not ideal but they will be prioritising people on thier own.
If there is no carers near your gd who could get thier safely there us nothing they can do.

I worked as a carer and they are treated appallingly by these companies. Getting normal travel expenses out of them was like jumping through hoops never mind taxi fares if they need one (tbh i dont think they would reimburse them for that anyway and on minimum wage they would probably be working for an hour for nothing just to pay the fare)

If i was still working as a carer i wouldnt gave been able to get anywhere due to snow round here. Its upsetting for you and your gm but its not anyones fault.
Have you actually called the service provider to see if someone can pop in?

cavoli ops gd has got relatives though other people will not so will be prioritised so your comment doesnt apply in this case.

Given the great lengths carers and NHS staff go to to get in to work and out to clients you at being a BU.

But you may not know what it is they do! So:

Nationally there are groups of people with 4x4s who volunteer to take in NHS staff and drive carers around to clients. Local facebook pages are full of info on these.

Hospital trusts also have such groups, again I think they are volunteers.

Rurally farmers offer there services to clear roads with tractors or to take food stuffs and do check on the most isolated, where even 4x4s can't manage.

I know this because I help coordinate our local group and we have got all bar 1 of our local care service clients seen. He has contacted us and confirmed he is fine and that his daughter is with him. As she can't get out we have a farmer on stand by, just in case!

Spare a thought for carers, they really do put themselves out to get to their clients and, as someone said, one has already died trying to do just that!

Sorry, I meant to add, have you rung the care agency and asked, checked their facebook page for info, or posted on the local facebook page asking for someone local to check?

You should get some fast responses if you do! Good luck

I completly understand your frustrations I used to be a carer in the community and all I can say is days like these unfortunately it's those who NEED calls that will be prioritised. On call probably have that many carers and clients phoning in that phoning you to let you know would be virtually impossible.
Your grandparents should have a care plan where carers can leave notes on what they did in the call. Just write down in there date time & what you have done for them washing/meals etc then at least the next carers can see what's been done.
Also in the morning phone up the office your got the care contract with (ide wait till 10ish as weather like this seniors will be out doing calls too) speak to the manager and just explain what has happened. If nothing else it would be a note on their file.

Just to let you know most carers have back to back calls with no travelling time given so don't expect an on time call. I personal have gone to one address. Drove 20 mins away to do another call to go 2 doors away from the first call

My mum is 72 years old and the most dedicated care assistant I've ever known, she's been doing it for 30 years and continues to do so despite her own health and mobility issues.

She hasn't been in work the last few days. She terrified of driving in the snow, thhe road she lives on is an ice rink, she's not even safe to walk to the car. I told her not to even think about going in. Her employers will peioritise those most in need and people with families will have to manage for a few days. She is grossly underpaid for what she does, but even if she wasn't it's not worth her risking her life.

I don’t think it’s that straight forward, staff might have to look after DC whose schools have shut, their own roads or commute might be snow/ice covered (even if your grandad’s road is fine), they might not feel confident enough to do the drive in these conditions. And understaffing at care agencies is another issue entirely, but don’t blame the carers for that one..
This snow is a once in a year (if that) incident which we are just having to buckle up and get through, so as unfortunate as it is I don’t think it’s fair to blame the carers here.

Local Facebook groups can be great for this kind of thing, our local one is. People offering to take round a loaf, milk etc for those who can't get out. Not the same as a carer but it's a start

This must be a very stressful and upsetting time for you NameChanged Have you had any telephone contact with the District Nurses or GP for advice/reassurance?