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Care homes became like ‘zoos’ during the pandemic and left residents ‘wishing they had died’ before Covid
The Scottish Covid-19 Inquiry heard that pandemic restrictions left some care home residents isolated from family and confused about why visits had stopped. Families and care workers described residents’ mental health deteriorating, with some expressing a wish to have died before Covid; the testimony highlights the human cost of measures intended to limit infection.
The inquiry’s latest “Let’s Be Heard” report draws on thousands of Scots’ accounts. One South Lanarkshire woman said she could not visit her mother for seven months, while a deaf 100-year-old reportedly spent weeks unable to communicate through masks or by phone. Workers also described window visits, a video call arranged against managers’ wishes for a dying resident, and residents who were not told about the pandemic under care home policies.
In short
- Scottish care home residents endured prolonged separation from family.
- Some residents became depressed and wished they had died before Covid.
- Inquiry testimony describes the effects of restricted visits and communication.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Strict restrictions on care home visits were intended to reduce the risk of Covid spreading among residents, many of whom were especially vulnerable to severe illness. In an emergency with uncertainty about transmission and limited protective measures, limiting contact with visitors could be seen as a necessary way to protect residents and staff and prevent deaths.
The case against
Prolonged separation from family caused serious harm to some residents, including loneliness, confusion and worsening mental health, while masks and remote contact could make communication difficult or impossible. Critics can argue that restrictions were too rigid or poorly adapted to individual needs, and that infection control should have been balanced with humane, meaningful contact and clear communication.