Social Care Day of Remembrance and Reflection: 969 care workers lost their lives to Covid

Care home and home care staff have been remembering those who lost their lives in the pandemic on the Social Care Day of Remembrance and Reflection.

The remembrance day on 17 March is being held by 21 organisations including Skills for Care and the Care Workers’ Charity, to pay tribute to those who worked in adult social care during the pandemic as well as those who sadly lost their lives to Covid-19.

A total of 969 care staff lost their lives to the virus between March 2020 and September 2021.

As well as this incredibly sad loss of life, many care staff moved away from their families into care homes to keep residents safe during lockdowns and worked long hours in what became a highly stressful and exhausting work environment. Over 40,000 care home residents died in the UK during the pandemic leaving care staff seeing death and grief on a scale they had never witnessed and experienced before.

Gillian Keegan, Minister of State for Care spoke at a remembrance event which was streamed live to a virtual audience.

The event was also attended by Karolina Gerlich, chief executive of the Care Workers’ Charity. She spoke movingly about her experiences as a care worker during the pandemic.

Poet Martin Figura wrote a special poem dedicated to the social care workforce which he read at the event.

The event ended with a minute’s silence dedicated to social care workers.

Care homes, home care providers and councils across the country marked the day with various different activities.

Hertfordshire County Council hosted its own memorial event on the day, including poems and a minute’s silence and West and North Northamptonshire Councils joined together in leading a service at Abington Park, including tributes led by school children and social care staff.

The Northallerton County Hall flag was flown at half-mast in tribute to social care workers.

Stephen Chandler, ADASS president (Association of Directors of Adult Social Services) said: “I'm always asking people to look forward to what's possible. However today I'm asking everyone to think back over the last two years and to remember those staff working in adult social care who lost their lives to Covid. An individual loss and a loss to their families.”

Vic Rayner, chief executive of the National Care Forum, said: “All the team at The National Care Forum will never forget the lives lost to Covid of care and health staff - we will continue to champion their amazing work and fight for the recognition they deserve - care matters to us all.”

Paul Tennant, chief executive of Abbeyfield Society, which runs 19 care homes, thanked staff, saying: "It’s important to pay tribute to the incredible work of the dedicated people working across social care during the pandemic & remember those who have been lost. We are fortunate to have people who give so much of themselves to care for others."

Plenus Care, which runs two care homes in Lincolnshire, marked the day by displaying banners at their care homes.

Helen Logan, its manager, said: “Day in day out, carers work tirelessly to keep our loved ones safe – the remembrance day is an opportunity to say thank you and remember the ones the sector has sadly lost.”

'It's up to us to keep their memory alive'

Remembering the sacrifices made by care staff is vital, according to Cllr David Fothergill, chairman of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board, who said: “The social care sector faced some of the toughest conditions that the pandemic created. Care workers, those working for councils and providers and colleagues in all other supporting roles, worked tirelessly to help keep clinically vulnerable people safe and did their very best to support the wellbeing of all people who draw on social care.

“It is absolutely right to honour the dedication and commitment of the workforce, which has been so evident over the last two years.

“For this selfless work, some paid the ultimate price and sadly lost their lives. It is up to us to keep their memory alive and thank and remember them whenever we can.”

The Care Workers’ Charity has set up a virtual memorial wall and tribute wall where messages of thanks and recognition can be dedicated to people working in social care. https://www.thecareworkerscharity.org.uk/covid-19-tribute/