Caring relationships in times of crisis: the role of families during the Covid-19 pandemic

Introduction: Caregiving is shaped by social system factors that influence the availability of formal and informal support and represents a key life-course experience linked to ageing and family roles. Intra-family relationships and the exchange of emotional and practical support are crucial for older adults' well-being, yet remain underexplored in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic. At the European level, individuals aged 65+ with long-term care needs and their informal caregivers were among the most affected population groups. Methods: This study analyses open-access data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE) to investigate the Italian context. The work examines pandemic-related changes in family care strategies, relational dynamics, and the adoption of digital tools to support informal caregiving. Results: Findings confirm the substantial increase in caregiver burden and care recipients' vulnerability associated with the unintended consequences of Covid-19 epidemiological control measures. Data show disruptions in care arrangements and heightened emotional and practical strain within families. Discussion: Alongside challenges, results highlight underexplored functional aspects of family care practices, particularly the supportive role of new technologies. Digital tools emerged as a relevant resource for sustaining caregiving and mitigating relational and organisational breakdowns, suggesting the need to further integrate technological support into informal care strategies.