Cheryl Harrison gave up work to care for her parents, both of whom had dementia. Cheryl’s dementia-hit mother Janet Gibbs was put in a residential home for respite last November. But it was a decision her family believe cost her life. She was tested for coronavirus on April 7 and two days later – the day the results came back positive – she died aged 78.

Cheryl, 51, from Nuneaton, Warwickshire, said: “I want to tell all families to get their relatives out because care homes are not a safe place. Coronavirus is rife.

“The carers did their best. They looked after mum extremely well, showing her all the love and care she received at home.

“I’ll always be really grateful but the situation scares me.

“I’m in no doubt the number of residents being struck down with coronavirus across Britain is far greater than we are being told.”

The family still do not know when they can hold her funeral, following the death at Moat House care home, in Burbage, Leics.

Experts say the true scale of the coronavirus epidemic sweeping through the 11,300 care homes in the UK is significantly worse than acknowledged.

There have also been claims that staff and carers, who are looking after some of the most sick and vulnerable, have inadequate personal protective equipment [PPE]. Sally Copley, of Alzheimer’s Society, said: “The news that coronavirus deaths are so much higher than thought, with hundreds of previously unannounced deaths in care homes, will be a massive worry for families living with dementia across the UK.

“If the Government isn’t counting these deaths, how can it be taking the urgent and necessary action to address them? It strikes us that these deaths from coronavirus are the iceberg, and the hospital figures just the tip.”

Jayne Connery, director of Care Campaign for the Vulnerable (CCV), said: “We remain very concerned about the plight of vulnerable people in care homes. “We already know the principal industry regulator has stopped inspecting care facilities, many GPs across the UK will not visit care home residents, and many staff are self isolating and therefore unavailable to work.

“Mrs Harrison’s bereavement is incredibly sad. But CCV is receiving calls from many families in similar circumstances and care staff concerned about the lack of PPE.

“We call on the Government to better protect vulnerable care home residents by ensuring PPE is a priority and by mandating safety monitoring in the shortest possible time frame.”

Adept Care Homes, which operates seven care homes with more than 450 residents in the Midlands including Moat House, confirmed its first positive case of coronavirus on March 27. The resident is now fully recovered.

Managing director Dave Lock said: “We can confirm three residents have sadly passed away where [they] tested positive for Covid-19. But it is not confirmed that cause of death was attributed to the virus.

“The health, safety and wellbeing of our residents and colleagues is of paramount importance. We are committed to doing everything we can to keep them safe.

“Currently, just under 10 percent of our amazing care team are currently away from work due to illness or self-isolating, with four confirmed cases. One is in hospital and their condition is stable.

“We will continue to monitor all residents and follow all recommended guidelines while the homes remain closed to all nonessential visitors.

“Residents have been asked to remain in their rooms where possible with activities continuing where it is safe to do so.”

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