Unforgettable: Telling the care home story
A play that puts the experiences of staff and care home residents centre stage
During the Covid pandemic, care homes probably experienced the most challenging operational period in their history. “Unforgettable” tells the story of a residential care home from the perspective of care staff, residents, families, and the owners.
“I worked 7am-9pm 17 days in a row. They were not residents - they were Joe, Constance, Arthur, Giovanni. They were my friends; my family and I’m gutted - but I can’t show it.”
The words above are spoken by ‘Beth,’ a care home manager, near the start of the play when she addresses the audience. She was the oldest of four children and came to this role after caring for her three younger siblings plus a grandmother who had Alzheimer’s Disease. ‘Beth’ is going through a harrowing time talking on the phone trying to get more staff to come on duty at the care home. She is also speaking with a family member offering comfort about the death of their father after he was sent from hospital, where he should have stayed, to the care home where he caught Covid and died. ‘Beth’ talks about the staff taking on more than their original jobs to care for people and to be with those residents who were dying as their families couldn’t be that took an enormous toll on them. Desperately trying to source PPE that involved meeting suppliers in a motorway service area provided another serious challenge.
The play then moves two years into the future and looks at the plight of ‘Edna’ who has lost her long-time partner, ‘Meg’ who had Alzheimer’s Disease, after caring for her before she entered residential care where she died. ‘Edna’s’ brother, ‘George’, believes she is struggling living on her own and needs support. The play follows the emotional and financial challenges facing Edna as she tries to come to terms with ‘Meg’s’ death. She recalls how uncomfortable she had felt when visiting ‘Meg’ in her care home because of their relationship and the difficulties caused by not being in a civil partnership. After falling at home and damaging her hip, ‘Edna’ is hospitalised and tests asymptomatic for Covid meaning the care home won’t accept her, so she returns to her own home. After more time elapses, ‘Edna’ comes to realise she doesn’t want to continue living on her own. This decision leads to an unexpected reunion when and she and ‘George’ meet with ‘Beth’ to talk about ‘Edna’ going to live in the care home, which she does.
“I have written and researched 22 plays about care and health issues over the last 15 years,” said Brian Daniels. “‘Unforgettable’ was harrowing to research, and I spoke to many inconsolable family members who had lost the person they most loved during the pandemic. What came across most strongly though was the compassion, care and love demonstrated without fail by the care home staff I met that resonated so strongly.
“I have nothing but the utmost respect for those I interviewed and who felt able to share something of their pain and loss - sometimes with humour through the tears. I hope the play is a true representation of the range of emotions I encountered.”
The play was commissioned by Leeds Care Association and as Michelle Atkinson, General Manager said:
"It's really, really important to hear the things from the care home perspective - staff, owners and managers, residents and families. It's about their story and what they went through, being heard and visible, not from a government perspective but as their story, from their mouths.
"It is also about commemorating the many residents and staff who lost their lives to Covid that was really hard for everyone, so this play is a tribute to them."
Unforgettable is being performed at the House of Commons on 13 June 2023. News story here
Listen to more about the play…
Brian Daniels, Playwright
Councillor Fiona Venner, Leeds City Council
