How do I handle a long gap on my résumé?

I took time out to care for a family member after working as a nurse's aide. I have read a lot of threads here and could not find my exact situation. 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.

Thanks for writing this out. I went through something close to it 13 months ago, and it settled down once I kept a simple log of every call and form.