Social inequality in informal caregiving in Italy

Italy has one of the highest proportions of people aged 65 and over in Europe and worldwide, with rising life expectancy not matched by equivalent years of healthy living. This demographic shift places increasing pressure on families and the welfare system, particularly given limited public expenditure on long-term care (LTC) and the strong reliance on informal caregiving. Within Italy’s familistic welfare model, informal care – primarily provided by migrant workers and family members – remains a cornerstone of support for older adults. This paper examines how socioeconomic status (SES) and gender intersect to shape the provision of informal caregiving. Drawing on data from the 2019 Italian module of the European Health Interview Survey (EHIS), we analyze caregiving patterns among adults aged 50 and over. SES is operationalized through educational attainment and income, which serve as proxies for individual and family resources. Our findings reveal a positive association between SES and the likelihood of providing low-intensity caregiving ( 20 hours per week), suggesting a threshold beyond which SES differences become less pronounced. Gender disparities are also evident: while women are more likely to provide care across SES groups, men with higher SES are disproportionately represented in low-intensity caregiving. This pattern may reflect evolving norms and progressive attitudes among highly educated men, challenging traditional gender roles. Overall, the study underscores the importance of both public and private support systems in mitigating the physical, mental, and social strains of caregiving. As demographic and societal changes continue to reshape family structures, understanding the interplay of SES, gender, and caregiving is essential for designing equitable and sustainable care arrangements in aging societies.