5-month résumé gap, advice? - first time posting

I took time out to care for a family member after working as a dental hygienist. I worked as a dental hygienist before this. I have done some volunteering and a course during that time. What do you say in interviews?

I was hired after a 5-month gap. The manager said the skills test mattered more than the dates.

I listed the volunteering and course under the same dates and kept the explanation to a sentence in the cover letter.