Care home manager's anger captured in film inspired by Coleridge poem

A satirical film influenced by Samuel Coleridge’s famous poem 'The Rime of the Ancient Mariner' has highlighted the challenges faced by care home managers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Actor Beth Hayward plays a care home manager.

The short film, titled ‘The Rime of the Care Home Manager’, was made by film-maker Cassius Rayner who felt compelled to focus on the plight of care homes and PPE shortages in the style of Coleridge’s famous poem.

Actor Beth Hayward plays a care home manager seen publicly criticising a health minister outside his house for failing to deliver PPE, as she, the health minister and a journalist speak words inspired by the poem.

In the film, the care home manager tells the health minister “You think this too shall also pass. Next week shall bring distractions. You’ll tough it out and brush it off. Not answer for your actions.

“Slaughter, slaughter everywhere. Our care homes all might sink. Slaughter everywhere. Of us, you did not think.”

The film shows the actors performing in the street interspersed with real footage of care homes and care home workers.

The film’s co-writer, Ian Wilson, said: “The collective dismay at the government’s handling of PPE for care homes has been astounding. This has been translated through the art of film, with so many talented local people volunteering their time to make this happen.”

The filmmaker hopes people will consider care homes and donate to the London-based charity for older people Just Older Youth (JOY), which is supporting isolated people during the pandemic.

Joanna Lumley: 'Required viewing for those in charge'

Actress Joanna Lumley said: “This short brilliant film should be required viewing for those in charge of our country. The Rime of the Care Home Manager goes straight to the painful heart of the matter: couched in almost-familiar verses is the anguish and anger about the treatment of elderly lonely people."

JOY is entirely run by volunteers in the New Cross area of London. Its volunteers apply for grants, fundraise and organise 10 activity classes a week, ranging from dance, Tai Chi, gentle exercise, walks, singing, craft and a Men's Shed project.

On its website the charity JOY states how during lockdown its membership was shielding ‘leading to more isolation and loneliness and less physical activity’. ‘The committee has been ringing members regularly, checking everyone is ok and putting people in touch with food delivery schemes. We have also organised a singing group online’.

The charity continued to incur costs such as hall hire paid in advance during lockdown. Its volunteers fear the virus’ impact on the economy, ‘will jeopardise the future of JOY’.

The film ends with a call to action for the public to donate to the charity’s crowdfunder page: www.avivacommunityfund.co.uk/joy-just-older-youth

By 12 August, £5,940 had been raised for the charity.