Caregiving, a new documentary created with executive producer Bradley Cooper, highlights the challenges and triumphs of caregiving in America. Award-winning actress Uzo Aduba (The Residence, Painkiller, Orange is the New Black) narrates the film, bringing her own experience as a caregiver for her mother to the project. The two-hour documentary, funded in part by AVDF, will premiere on June 24, 2025, at 9 p.m. ET on wellbeings.org, PBS, and the PBS YouTube Channel. The documentary is now available for streaming on the PBS App and PBS.org.
The two-hour documentary is centered on the personal experiences of caregivers providing for loved ones, and the challenges and triumphs they face each day. These stories are interwoven with the broader context of the cultural and economic conditions in the U.S., leading to a care system tipping into crisis. According to recent studies, in addition to 5 million paid caregivers nationally, it is estimated that between 53 million to 105.6 million U.S. adults provide unpaid caregiving for ill, aging, or disabled family members and friends. In addition, an estimated 5.4 million children and adolescents in the U.S. are direct caregivers. Caregiving examines the historical and contemporary efforts to address this often unrecognized and rapidly increasing need. Caregiving is a production of Cooper’s production company, Lea Pictures, and public media station WETA Washington, D.C., in association with Ark Media.
“The caregiving experience I had with my father inspired this documentary. During his battle with lung cancer, I came face to face with the overwhelming realities of taking care of a loved one,” said Bradley Cooper, actor, producer, director and caregiver. “I was lucky enough that I was able to be there for my Dad. And I certainly benefited from the help we also got from others. Caregivers are heroic people. Their ability to focus and give all of themselves is something I stand in awe of. I came to appreciate how we need to care for caregivers better. It is my hope that Caregiving will provide affirmation and support for those who do this profoundly meaningful and increasingly vital work.”
Bradley Cooper Invites the Public to Share Their Caregiving Story
Each story of caregiving is unique, and the public is invited to help share the complexity, delights and difficulties of caregiving via #ShareYourCaregivingStory on social media or the We Are Well Beings Storywall. There, Cooper invites the public in a #ShareYourCaregivingStory video to join him in sharing personal reflections, photos, videos and stories while building a community of understanding about caregiving.
The Documentary
Caregiving brings audiences into the daily experiences of six family and professional caregivers across the U.S. as they share the realities associated with providing care full-time and the often-complicated challenges and extraordinary moments, including joy, that are part of the care relationship.
“Making this film has been an inspiring and humbling experience,” said Chris Durrance, Director and Senior Producer. “Over the past twelve months, the production team and I have traveled throughout the country, spending time with family and professional caregivers of all ages and backgrounds. We have witnessed their tireless work on behalf of the people they love. We have witnessed the isolation so many caregivers feel and the struggles they face navigating complex systems of state and federal support. We have also seen the joy and rewards that come with the unique connection that caregivers experience. We have come to appreciate that every family has a care story and we hope that this film inspires viewers to share their own, building new communities of care that will bring us all closer together.”
In Caregiving, these stories unfold alongside an examination of the creation and evolution of the care system and the social dynamics that shape our approach to caregiving today. The documentary examines how caregiving in the U.S. has been historically unnoticed and inadequately supported, while economic crises and war have impacted the care needs of the country and the caregiving industry. Caregiving traces the roots of America’s social safety net to Frances Perkins, who, as U.S. Secretary of Labor under President Franklin D. Roosevelt from 1933 to 1945, led the creation of the Social Security Act in response to the Great Depression. The documentary also explores the evolution of social norms regarding caregiving through the decades. Caregiving further examines how the need to care for veterans intensified caregiving demands as those returning with physical and psychological injuries were often unable to rejoin the workforce, exposing critical gaps in support systems and driving reforms to better address long-term care needs.
Caregiving Short Films
The Caregiving project also includes 18 short films that examine current caregiving experiences, programs and perspectives — at individual, family and community levels. The Caregiving short films began debuting in October 2024 and premiered through May 2025, available on wellbeings.org and the Well Beings YouTube Channel.
Collaboration with Fred Rogers Productions Engages Families and Children on Caregiving
In recognition of the impact of caregiving issues on entire families, particularly children, Fred Rogers Productions (FRP) is collaborating with Lea Pictures and WETA to create developmentally appropriate content for children ages 2 to 6. The specialized content is funded in part by AVDF, and will support the film’s commitment to education and will convey key messages about how caregiving is part of a loving family. Slated to debut in Fall 2025, the initiative will include video content from FRP-produced and AVDF-supported PBS KIDS series Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, Donkey Hodie and Alma’s Way; curated activities; lesson plans; video clips for social media platforms; a Mister Rogers music video; and three short documentary stories featuring children and their families modeling some of the key caregiving messages.
Well Beings Campaign
Caregiving is part of Well Beings, the multiplatform campaign from WETA that launched in 2020 to address the critical health needs in America through original broadcast and digital content, civic engagement campaigns, and impactful local events. The Caregiving national outreach, education, and engagement campaign with Well Beings launched in Fall 2024 at the United Nations and seeks to spotlight the issues caregivers face, build awareness for community programs, and sustain caregivers at a time of unprecedented need.
A National Collection of Caregiving Partners
The ambitious project results from a large network of more than 30 committed partners, as well as PBS member stations and public radio stations, to produce in-person and virtual engagement events and provide resource guides and other tailored resources to meet the specific needs of their communities. Among the organizations are Grantmakers in Aging, of which AVDF is a member, and AVDF-grantees the Center to Advance Palliative Care, and the Coalition to Transform Advanced Care.
The public can join the conversation by using #WellBeings and #CaregivingPBS, visiting wellbeings.org, or following @WellBeingsOrg on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube or Threads. To learn more about the Caregiving documentary and campaign, click here.
Back to all Stories
