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.