Swedish elder care was in crisis before the Covid-19 pandemic. The sector is underfunded, understaffed and the Swedish population is ageing. There is a shortage of trained care workers. Pandemic planning was inadequate. Although some improvements have been introduced in the course of the pandemic, municipalities and regions will need additional tax funding to finance growing care needs and improve the work environment. The elder care sector needs to be prioritized politically and to be given the opportunity to raise standards. This report discusses how the first wave of the pandemic hit the Swedish elder care sector.