Long term relationship; Does he really care?

I've been in a relationship for over three years with someone I've known for over 10 years. I understand everyone has ups and downs, although things had gotten rough enough that we decided to take a break for a few months, I knew that we may decide to just stay friends in the end. Fast forward to now, we started reconnecting and the passion we have for eachother is still there, just as strong as it's always been. Most recently we've both had things happen in our lives that slowed down communication, as we needed to focus on what was going on (I'm dealing with the loss of a pet I had 7 years and my mother struggling with her health; his grandmother's been hurt/sick recently and is currently being treated to get better).

I understand completely that means we may not talk as much, and there may be days he is too busy or stressed to talk at all. Family getting hurt or sick is serious, and I don't expect to be his first priority right now. With that said, he has been slipping into the same behavior he had when I told him we needed a break before: ignoring me days, sometimes well over a week at a time. There are no "good morning/goodnight" texts, most calls/texts are ignored (but he will be active online), and when we do talk I always ask if he is okay/how he is doing, but never am asked of my well-being. It's back to me feeling like I am an inconvenience, bothering him by just wanting to hear from him (even just a good morning and good night would make me happy, we don't need to talk all the time). Last we talked, he didn't apologize for ignoring me 4-5 days, just said "yeah I've been drunk the past few days." He sounded depressed, so my reaction was to let him talk about his stress, then bring up topics I knew would cheer him up and help him not get into his head too much about stressful/negative thoughts.

These are things I can gladly continue doing as a friend, but after just starting to connect on a romantic level again it stings feeling like I am now being treated as a friend only worth talking to when he finds convenient, which doesn't seem to be often. I'm at the point I want to step back away and put walls up. I feel like I should cut off any feelings I have and fully give up on ever getting back together. Another part of me doesn't want to react to strongly/quickly and says to be patient. Overall I'm at a loss on what to do. If you read all the way through, thank you, and any advice is appreciated.