Relatives of care home residents have expressed their distress and anger following the recent report from the public inquiry into the Covid-19 pandemic. The inquiry revealed the devastating impact of isolation policies on vulnerable individuals, highlighting the emotional toll experienced by residents and their families.
Distress and Loneliness During the Pandemic
Amy, a 39-year-old from Milton Keynes, shared her heartbreaking experience of her maternal grandparents, Eva and Eric, who were married for over 60 years. Due to Eva's dementia and Eric's frailty, they were placed in separate care homes. When the first lockdown was announced in March 2020, it effectively cut them off from each other and their granddaughter.
“"At the time it felt like a devil’s bargain – it was horrible, but it was what [we thought] we had to do to keep people safe," Amy said.
During the lockdown, Amy struggled to communicate with her grandfather, often unable to reach him by phone due to staff shortages. She described him as "desperately lonely, isolated in his room" and noted that he became depressed and fearful until he contracted the virus in 2022. Amy was only able to see him in a Covid ward after pleading with hospital staff for a visit. Tragically, Eric passed away shortly after.
Inquiry Findings
The inquiry's findings have left many families feeling that the isolation policies were "cruel and pointless." Amy expressed her frustration, stating, "I want to smash something. I can never get that time with them back." The report concluded that the care sector was treated as an "afterthought" by government planners. It criticized the then health secretary, Matt Hancock, for claiming to have put a "protective ring" around residents, stating that this was unfounded.
