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

## TL;DR

The paper explores how family caregiving changed during the pandemic, focusing on increased burdens and the role of digital tools in supporting older adults in Italy.

## Contribution

The study reveals new insights into how digital tools helped sustain caregiving during the pandemic, highlighting their potential in informal care strategies.

## Key findings

- Covid-19 measures increased caregiver burden and vulnerability among older adults.
- Digital tools were used to support caregiving and reduce relational and organizational breakdowns.
- Family care practices showed functional adaptations during the pandemic.

## Abstract

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.

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.

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.

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.