Five Years On……
Today marks the fifth anniversary of the first UK lockdown, a moment that changed the course of our lives, our communities, and our care system.
For those of us in the care sector, it was the start of a time filled with fear, uncertainty, and heartbreak. Families were separated; loved ones were lost but
in the middle of it all, something deeply important became clear to the wider public – the true value of care, and of those who dedicate their lives to it.
We saw care staff staying on site, away from their own families, doing whatever it took to protect the people they cared for. Some slept in camper vans, spare
rooms, or makeshift beds. Many went weeks without seeing their children. They stepped in when relatives could not, held hands in final moments, and showed
extraordinary compassion when it was needed most.
Care homes became places of both immense challenge and incredible resilience. And the people working in them became nothing short of heroes.
The pandemic also shone a light on the long-standing issues in social care like chronic understaffing, lack of clear guidance, and the absence of consistent
recognition for care workers and family caregivers.
We owe it to every carer, every resident, and every grieving family to take the lessons of the pandemic and use them to drive meaningful change.
Tony Stein, HCMS CEO
