Explaining a gap after caregiving or layoff after 10 years as a medical assistant

My résumé shows a gap from a layoff and some health issues. I am nervous about being filtered out. How did you handle it on your résumé?

I was hired after a 8-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.