THE DAUGHTER of an elderly care home resident says her parents' deterioration throughout the pandemic has been “heartbreaking”.

A group of campaigners have accused the care minister of failing to listen after she attended the tail end of a meeting where families shared tales of “soul-destroying” separation experienced during Covid.

Gasps filled the room as relatives spoke of being unable to say goodbye to their dying parents, the humiliation of window visits and how loves ones have lost the ability to speak after being isolated for so long.

Kate Meacock, from Sussex, said she observed a “frightening” deterioration in her previously independent father Charles, 85.

He had been admitted to hospital for four and a half weeks with a “completely closed-door policy”.

She was unable to see her mother Caroline, 76, for an entire year between March 2020 and March 2021.

Ms Meacock said she “shrieked in delight” when they were finally able to hold hands again at her care home.

The 52-year-old said: “We need to know those who mean the most to us will be allowed to be there for us, at a time when we are most vulnerable and frightened.

“The isolation both my parents have experienced has been horrific, their deterioration heartbreaking.”

Another campaigner said she feels “haunted” after being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder when her father died, and she could not visit.

The campaigners and MPs are calling for a new legal right which would enable people in health and care settings to maintain contact with at least one loved one providing essential support.

This would give people the right to unrestricted contact with a “care supporter” in a bid to make sure the isolation experienced by some in care during the pandemic is “never again” felt.

Campaigners said it was “insulting” that care minister and Chichester MP Gillian Keegan only attended for the final 20 minutes.

Ms Keegan, who did not arrive in time to hear the testimonies of the six people at the two-hour event in Westminster on Wednesday, but assured attendees, “I completely get it” and said the Government is exploring options.

Actress Ruthie Henshall, whose mother Gloria died in a care home in May 2021, broke down in tears.

She said she feels “very, very upset and really frustrated” by Ms Keegan’s actions.

“She’s not listening and I’m really quite devastated by this,” she said. “It was like the compassion was sucked out of the room.”

The event was organised by the charity the Relatives and Residents Association, and the groups John’s Campaign and Rights for Residents.

Labour’s Dan Carden told Ms Keegan: “My view is we’ve slept-walked into a position where families are left powerless over seeing their loved ones.

“I don’t think that’s what Parliament wants, I can’t believe it’s what the Government wants, and the current guidance that’s in place is not satisfactory - it’s a postcode lottery and it leaves the power in the hands of the individual establishment.”