Explaining a gap after caregiving or layoff - any advice?

I took time out to care for a family member after working as a medical assistant. I would rather hear the honest version than the polite one. I have done some volunteering and a course during that time. How did you handle it on your résumé?

Thanks for writing this out. I went through something close to it last year, and it got easier once I kept a simple log of every call and form.

I was hired after a 14-month gap. The manager said the skills test mattered more than the dates.