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?

@NewYearNewMe18 And I don't understand why there would be 3 over nights - surely there would be seven? Either over night is needed or it isn't, not just every other night

Respite for his wife? She may be able to do overnight care some nights but not all, not at all unusual to have part time overnight care for the reason stated above.

My MIL is a carer and was in an accident while trying to get out of her home to go visit one of her clients she knew would be alone. Neighbor stepped in but MIL was left with a mild concussion and a hefty car bill. YABU

I'm a careworker. We had to cancel an awful lot of our calls as careworkers couldn't physically get to customers. We had to prioritise those who were bed bound and/or unable to wash/dress/feed themselves and get medication. Careworkers walked to customers they could reach and the company director borrowed a 4x4 and spent the day ferrying careworkers around. The fact, schools shut meant careworkers also had childcare issues. My company set up a room in the office so we could leave our children and get to customers. It's certainly not ideal but those who had family with them weren't a priority. Hopefully the snow will melt soon.

OP - given the circumstances and the fact you can drive there, can you not give your GM some respite in such desperate times? It's a hard ask for you but if she's exhausted could you sleep over? Totally agree with PPs that you should be talking to the agency and to his medical centre for emergency help/any extra medicines esp syringe driver. Every area is different - thawing where I am now but frost (black ice?) predicted overnight into early morning. Another time for carers to be careful about what they do for their own sakes even if some of them are no longer snowed in.

The only thing going up and down our lane yesterday was a tractor. Even 4WD drivers were limited. Read somewhere else that the fall of snow was such that 4WDs were slipping (and many are like tanks) so unless you are truly practised even those can be lethal.

Perhaps the government should have a snow/flood plan. It seems as if it was entirely up to local NHS trusts, care agencies etc to sort things out locally. Clearly everyone should have been ahead of the curve. Well done to everyone, including farmers and FWD drivers for helping out.

Carers don't do 'medical things' - they aren't qualified. the district nurse would do 'medical stuff'

This ^

OP - It's great news that YOU can drive there and help with washing, feeding, dressing which carers do. And this is great. Keep doing this for your family that you love. If more people did this for their families there would be less pressure on carers in times like this.

But, please don't look to blame the carer who is not able to get there without putting their life at risk. It's not about the hourly wage, carers care and they are doing what they can and getting out there where it is safe to do so.

Please remember that poor carer who died on the way to her job this week. She couldn't drive to her charges, like you can with your GF, and this was the sad outcome.

If you are concerned about your GF's health as it has deteriorated then call 111 for advice.

The op does also say the nurses haven’t been so he has had no menucal assistance either.

Very very sad about the carer who died but that doesn’t take away from the op’s grandfathers situation.

I couldn’t have dressed my mum on my own. It took two experienced carers so let’s not undermine a carers job by implying it is so easy family can do it. It’s not as easy as that.

It depends how much snow there was in their area, road conditions etc. We I live we had up to 30cm snow, all roads in our area were pretty impassable for a day or 2 not just because of the ice but also because we had big snowdrifts (up to 5ft) from the surrounding fields on major roads. Our car battery actually died so we couldn’t even get our car out of the driveway. The local Constabulary made it very clear not to go out unless absolutely necessary. Even 4x4 cars who had attempted to get out of our village/neighbouring villages were getting stuck and abandoning their vehicles. The only vehicles getting through were tractors and snowploughs! I so think depending on your circumstances, the snow is a very valid reason for not being able to get to work given the fact that our country is not very well equipped for such conditions.
Our local community has been great though helping rescue people and looking out for the elderly especially. Hopefully those in need of care have been given it from neighbours or family during this week. Sometimes things are out of our control!

I didn't want to imply that a carer only does it for the money or that anyone could do it. My Mum's carers are lovely, very caring and skilled at what they do. They can handle her better than I can when she is being difficult, (dementia).