Caregiving, Premiering June 24 on PBS

A new documentary and national engagement campaign on the state and stakes of providing care in America.

Caregiving | Trailer

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 will premiere Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at 9 p.m. ET on PBS and the PBS YouTube Channel. An early streaming premiere begins Tuesday, May 27, 2025, on WellBeings.org, PBS.org, and the PBS App.

The two-hour documentary is centered on the personal experiences of caregivers providing for loved ones, and the challenges and triumph they face each day. As the number of caregivers declines, and the number of individuals requiring care in our country increases, the challenges grow. Caregivers require differing types and levels of support. At times, the burdens of caregiving can seem unbearable, regardless of resources. The “needs gap” for information may be greater for caregivers than it is for care recipients. The film will explore these issues and shine a light on innovation for 21st century caregiving.

The Numbers Behind the Issues

• According to a recent Rand Report, it is estimated that between 53 million to 105.6 million U.S. adults provide unpaid caregiving for family and friends.  
• An estimated 5.4 million children and adolescents in the U.S. are direct caregivers for family members. 
• There are five million paid caregivers nationally in the U.S., as of 2023. 
• The value of the care provided by unpaid family caregivers across the U.S. was $600 billion in 2021, according to a 2023 AARP report.
• Median annual earnings for direct care workers in the U.S. are $23,688.13, as of a 2023 report.

“A majority of Americans cannot afford to take care of their families. They see it as their responsibility, and often their failure. To get by, they cobble together solutions, even quitting their jobs to look after a loved one – a newborn, a parent, a friend, or an in-law. Things are getting worse as baby boomers age into their 70s. We are facing a social crisis as America’s piecemeal and expensive care infrastructure, created a half century ago, has reached a breaking point.”

AI-JEN POO & DR. BENJAMIN W. VEGHTE Architects of Universal Family Care, New York Times

Share Your Story

We invite caregivers of all ages to share their personal stories, videos, photos, and reflections to offer hope, foster understanding, build community, and break down stigma surrounding caregiving. You can easily submit your video via social media using the hashtag #WellBeings or email your story to info@wellbeings.org. Your submission may be featured in the We Are Well Beings Storywall. The We Are Well Beings Storywall is made possible through the generous support of Otsuka and People.

Share your caregiving journey and contribute to the collective strength and resilience of our online community as we support each other through the highs and lows of caregiving.

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Caregiving is a production of Lea Pictures and WETA Washington, D.C., in association with Ark media. Chris Durrance serves as Director for Ark media. Barak Goodman is Series Producer, Chris Durrance is Senior Producer and Ruth Fertig is Producer for Ark media. Executive Producers for Lea Pictures are Bradley Cooper and Weston Middleton. Executive Producers for WETA are John F. Wilson and Tom Chiodo. Producer for WETA is Kate Kelly. Production is managed for WETA by Jim Corbley.