Previous research on long COVID (PASC) has paid less attention to the perspective of family members or significant others, who play an important role in the everyday coping process with the illness. This gap was addressed in the present study, which aimed to describe how significant others perceive symptoms, functional changes, and the impact of the illness on daily life and relationships of individuals with PASC. Based on semi-structured interviews with seven participants, five key themes were identified: perceptions of changes in the affected individuals (physical, cognitive, and emotional), impacts on daily and work functioning, the role of family members as caregivers, processes of adaptation, and gaps in professional and broader social support. Significant others experienced PASC as a complex, prolonged, and unpredictable condition, characterized by fatigue, cognitive impairments, and reduced functional capacity. They often assumed additional responsibilities, which increased their burden. The results indicate that the illness significantly reshapes relationships, which may deepen through caregiving but also represent an additional physical and psychological strain. The study also highlights insufficient systemic support for significant others, who, alongside patients, require information and psychological assistance. Effective management of PASC therefore requires a comprehensive, interdisciplinary approach that includes family members and improves access to information, support, and workplace accommodations.
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