New lockdown. Can I stay overnight with elderly parents?

[dogseggs]

A few weeks ago I booked to stay in a hotel next weekend so I could support my elderly parents after my mum's operation. Dad is disabled and they will need help while my mum recovers. They live 150 miles away so it's not possible to visit without staying overnight. There are three of us in my household so I don't think I could count myself as part of a support bubble? I'm still not sure how that works.
I'm desperate to go. They are starting to struggle with depression over this whole situation, and at their age they are aware that time is precious. If I can't stay in the hotel I could sleep on the sofa for a couple of nights if needs be.
Can I still go? we miss each other terribly and at the moment they need practical help as much as emotional support.

I don't know for sure but I thought you were able to go to help the vulnerable. I'd say this is that category. I think more details will be released next week on what we can and can't do once they've figured it all out.
If it was me, I'd go and I'm a stickler for the rules generally!
I hope your mums op goes well.

I thought we can support vulnerable people, but not stay overnight away from home. Perhaps it would work if you moved in with them during lockdown. The reasoning behind it is to stop spreading the virus from area to area, which makes sense, and minimising contact from outside your household.

I want to say no? Based upon the last lockdown. People were allowed to stay over for a substantial amount of time eg a few weeks, but not overnight.

If your dad is disabled and unable to manage then potentially either of them could be classed as vulnerable and needing help. I would say that's permissible under lockdown, but try to minimise risk as much as you can,

I think just go and stay with them for as long as possible, can you stretch it out for a week? Obviously stay with them and not a hotel.

I’d definitely go. It’s reasonable.

Under the new rules, you can travel for caring responsibilities, but can't stay with someone not in your support bubble. However, if you're travelling 150 miles to support your parents, on your own, then it seems obvious that they don't have someone nearer to support them. In that situation, I can't see that you can't say you are forming a support bubble with them, as long as they aren't having support from other people too.

They need your care. You need to provide it. I don't think you'll be able to book a hotel for it, though.

Having just had a quick look at rules, I think you probably can as it is a resonable definition of care for a vulnerable person. It would come under that rather than a support bubble. It did say that hotel stays were for work but that there would be limited exemptions for other reasons I think, which have not yet been clarified.

I hope all goes well with the recovery for your DM.

You can provide help for those who are vulnerable and sometimes this might necessitate a stay overnight. Do what you need to do OP.

It’s fine - you are helping care for someone

That’s allowed

My dad has went to look after his elderly mum who suffers with dementia every other weekend all through lockdown- she can’t be on her own (has a live in carer in the week) but would be alone on the weekends

Your situation sounds similar - they need help !!

Thank you for all your thoughtful replies, and for the good wishes for my mum. It's not a major procedure, but she'll need to stay in bed and get lots of rest. I can't stay more than a few days as I have to go back to work. I'd already booked a few days off so I can isolate myself before going to visit, but that's all my leave used up for this year. I can't see that it'd be wrong to help my parents in this instance - they're in their 80s and vulnerable - then again, there's no point having a lockdown if lots of us bend the rules to suit ourselves... I'm tying myself in knots here!
I'll see if the rules become any clearer over the next couple of days

Please just go, I lost my mum in the last lock down and never saw her . Just go and stay x

Caring for the vulnerable is permitted and has been even during the March lockdown.

I suspect the only difficulty may be the hotel stay.

Yes you are allowed genuine caring responsibility. Whether the hotel will be open is another matter but you can care for vulnerable parents.

Do what you need to do.

My dad was categorised with 'end of life' frailty at the beginning of the last lockdown. He and mum are in their 80s, I have no siblings and we have no other family. I am just doing what I'm able to, although fortunately they are just around the corner.

We don't have the new legislation yet. The guidance says there'll be exceptions to the rule against staying away from home overnight. I'd be very surprised if caring for / supporting a vulnerable person was not in there.

Please go, they are vulnerable and need your help .