Campaigners Jenny Morrison and Diane Mayhew founded Rights for Residents. Its petition has attracted more than 300,000 signatures, while actress Ruthie Henshall has also joined the movement.

       The group's proposed legislation is called Jean's Law after Jenny's mother, who died last week in a care home where she had been struggling with Alzheimer's.

       Jenny said of Jean: "Through the months of isolation, the deterioration in her physical and mental health escalated dramatically and she became a shadow of her former self. Her family spent months grieving for someone that was still alive.

       "She worked hard all her life, sometimes juggling several jobs at once, in order to give us the things we needed.

       "And yet, at the very end of her life, the Government repaid her efforts by locking her away from those she held most dear.

       "Like thousands of others, I'm now left with an unbearable legacy of guilt that will be mine forever.

       "We urge the public to support our campaign to force a change in the law and give every care home resident the legal right to nominate at least one essential care giver that can visit them in any situation."