Explaining a gap after caregiving or layoff - what worked for you?

I have been out of work for 13 months and worry about the gap. It has been a long 19 weeks. I am nervous about being filtered out. What do you say in interviews?

I was hired after a 13-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.