WASHINGTON — Lutheran Services in America is proud to announce its partnership with public media station WETA Washington, D.C., for national outreach and engagement for Caregiving, the documentary for PBS created with executive producer Bradley Cooper highlighting the challenges and triumphs of caregiving in America. The new documentary will premiere Tuesday, June 24, 2025 at 9 p.m. ET on PBS (check local listings), and on the PBS YouTube Channel. Caregiving will be available to stream on PBS.org and the PBS App beginning Tuesday, May 27, 2025.
Award-winning actress Uzo Aduba (The Residence, Painkiller, Orange is the New Black) was also announced as the film’s narrator, bringing her own experience as a caregiver for her mother to the project.
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. 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.
Lutheran Services in America is proud to be an outreach and engagement partner on this initiative. Lutheran Services in America is a long-standing leading champion of community-led approaches to aging that empower care recipients and their caregivers with support resources such as caregiver education and counseling and respite programs. Through strategic partnerships and innovative programs, Lutheran Services in America addresses chronic challenges for family caregivers such as disparities in access to care and shortages to the caregiving workforce to improve services for older adults, children youth and families, and persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities across the country. Lutheran Services in America initiatives like the recently expanded Rural Aging Action Network specifically focus on meeting the needs of family caregivers to employ a “whole-family” approach to care coordination and service delivery for older adults with limited means.
In addition, Lutheran Services in America advocates for policies that recognize the vital role of caregivers, including family and nontraditional caregivers, to ensure older adults receive the support they need to lead independent lives, including the call to protect longstanding supports through programs like Medicare and Medicaid.
“Too often, caregivers struggle to attain the services and supports they need. This is especially true in rapidly aging rural communities where financial constraints and the need to travel long distances to receive care create additional burdens that impact caregivers’ health and well-being,” said Alesia Frerichs, president and CEO of Lutheran Services in America. “Our network is working to close these gaps by expanding community-based services, strengthening support for family caregivers, and advancing workforce solutions that ensure older adults can receive quality care close to home. By investing in caregivers, we’re investing in the lives of our loved ones.”
According to recent studies1, 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 at wellbeings.org/share-your-story. 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
A Caregiving 3-minute sizzle reel is available.
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. The film features Matthew (NY), a young father who became both his wife and son’s primary caregiver overnight after his wife experienced cancer and a debilitating stroke; Jacob (FL), a 14-year-old who, along with his father, shares the role of caregiver for his mom; Tracy (CO), a young woman balancing the transition from daughter to caregiver for her father, who has dementia; and Zulma (NY), a paid home health aide who has become like family to Sherril, who has multiple sclerosis, after years of caring for her — while Zulma also has her own family to care for after long hours of commuting.
“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.
Providing historical context, critical perspective and hope, experts featured in the documentary include Alison Gopnik, PhD, Professor, UC Berkeley; Paul Irving, Senior Advisor, Future of Aging, Milken Institute; Premilla Nadasen, PhD, Professor, Barnard College; Ai-jen Poo, Executive Director, Caring Across Generations; and Steve Schwab, CEO, Elizabeth Dole Foundation.
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 are premiering through May 2025, available on wellbeings.org and the Well Beings YouTube Channel. These poignant films include the story of a son who became unable to live on his own due to multiple chronic illnesses and the devoted father who cares for him; the heartfelt journey of a man who is a caregiver for his father, a veteran with dementia; community programs that provide church services for the differently abled and elderly; a group that provides respite care services for the unhoused; a program that offers a special camp for children whose family members have ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease); and many others. The Caregiving short films are also produced by Lea Pictures and WETA Washington, D.C., in association with Ark Media.
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 content 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 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. National outreach and engagement partners for Caregiving include Lutheran Services in America; Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers; Grantmakers In Aging; Milken Institute | Future of Aging; Global Coalition on Aging; Elizabeth Dole Foundation; National Minority Health Association; Fred Rogers Productions; The Coalition to Transform Advanced Care; American Association of Caregiving Youth; Caring Across Generations; SHRM Foundation; National Alliance for Caregiving; Center to Advance Palliative Care; PEOPLE; and Forbes.com.
Generous underwriters committed to greater education about health and wellness have made this ambitious project possible. Support for Caregiving is made possible by Otsuka America Pharmaceutical Inc.; Comfort Keepers; Care.com; Evelyn Y. Davis Foundation; Richard King Mellon Foundation; The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations; Ford Foundation; Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation; NextFifty Initiative (Next50); National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI); PATH Foundation; Care for All with Respect and Equity (CARE) Fund; The John A. Hartford Foundation; and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
The public can join the conversation by using #WellBeings and #CaregivingPBS, visiting wellbeings.org, or following @WellBeingsOrg on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube or Threads.
Caregiving Production Team
Caregiving is a production of Lea Pictures and WETA Washington, D.C., in association with Ark Media. For Ark Media, Chris Durrance serves as Director and Senior Producer; Barak Goodman is Series Producer; and Ruth Fertig is Producer. 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. Consulting Producer is Paul Irving.
An electronic press kit for Caregiving is available on PBS PressRoom.
About Lutheran Services in America
Lutheran Services in America is one of the nation’s largest national networks of health and human service providers with a mission to cultivate caring communities that advance health and opportunity for all Americans. With 300 nonprofit organizations across 1,400 U.S. communities, the Lutheran Services in America network works to improve outcomes for children, youth and families, improves independence and choice for older adults, champions meaningful services and support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and strengthens stability and purpose for veterans and others. Formed in 1997, Lutheran Services in America brings together a network of leaders, partners and funders to catalyze innovation, strengthen organizational capacity and advance public policy.
About Lea Pictures
Bradley Cooper created Lea Pictures in 2020 to create stories that inspire, motivate, and resonate as a producer, writer, actor, and director. Building off the critical and financial success of his producorial work on the Academy Award-nominated films Nightmare Alley, A Star Is Born, American Sniper, and Joker, Lea Pictures was formed to develop and produce commercially entertaining, and transformational feature films, television, documentary films, and digital content. Cooper’s first film under Lea Pictures was Maestro, which he co-wrote, produced, directed, and starred in. Maestro was nominated for seven Academy Awards, and the film was released by Netflix in December 2023. Cooper is currently co-writing, producing, and directing Is This Thing On? for Searchlight Pictures. The film stars Will Arnett and is in production now. Cooper is a 12-time Academy Award nominee whose passion for unique and personal storytelling has made him one of the most influential producers at this time. Additional projects under the Lea Pictures banner include Warner Bros’ Bullitt with Steven Spielberg; Hyperion, also with Warner Bros’ and Graham King; the History Channel’s miniseries FDR; and the podcasts The Good Stuff and Finally! A Show currently on iHeartMedia. Lea Pictures executives include Weston Middleton, who heads up the film division; Rebecca Shapiro, creative executive in the film division; Kristen Barnett in television; and Anneliese Barron in social impact.
About WETA
WETA is the leading public broadcaster in the nation’s capital, serving Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia with educational initiatives and high-quality programming on television, radio and digital. WETA Washington, D.C., is the second-largest producing station for public television, with news and public affairs programs including PBS News Hour, PBS News Weekend and Washington Week with The Atlantic; films by Ken Burns and Florentine Films, such as The American Buffalo and the forthcoming documentary The American Revolution; series and documentaries by Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., including Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and Great Migrations: A People on the Move; performance specials including National Memorial Day Concert and A Capitol Fourth; and health content from Well Beings, a multiplatform campaign. Sharon Percy Rockefeller is president and CEO. More information on WETA and its programs and services is available at weta.org. Visit facebook.com/wetatvfm on Facebook.
About Ark Media
Ark Media is one of the most prolific and honored non-fiction production companies in America, with over 25 years of experience producing premium documentary series that speak to a wide array of social, historical, and political themes. Founded in 1996 by filmmakers Barak Goodman and Rachel Dretzin and joined by fellow partner and filmmaker John Maggio in 2003, Ark produces both feature documentaries and over 30 hours of television/streaming content a year for such outlets as PBS, Participant, HBO, Netflix, MSNBC, and more. Ark’s films have premiered at Sundance, Tribeca, DocNYC, and other major film festivals, the company’s productions have been honored with five Emmy Awards, an Academy Award nomination, three duPont Columbia batons, and three George H. Foster Peabody Awards, among many other awards and accolades.
About PBS
PBS, with more than 330 member stations, offers all Americans the opportunity to explore new ideas and new worlds through television and digital content. Each month, PBS reaches over 42 million adults on linear primetime television, more than 15 million users on PBS-owned streaming platforms, and 56 million people view PBS content on social media, inviting them to experience the worlds of science, history, nature, and public affairs; to hear diverse viewpoints; and to take front-row seats to world-class drama and performances. PBS’s broad array of programs has been consistently honored by the industry’s most coveted award competitions. Teachers of children from pre-K through 12th grade turn to PBS LearningMedia for digital content and services that help bring classroom lessons to life. As the number one educational media brand, PBS KIDS helps children 2-8 build critical skills, enabling them to find success in school and life. Delivered through member stations, PBS KIDS offers high-quality content on TV — including a PBS KIDS channel — and streaming free on pbskids.org and the PBS KIDS Video app, games on the PBS KIDS Games app, and in communities across America. More information about PBS is available at PBS.org, one of the leading dot-org websites on the internet, Facebook, Instagram, or through our apps for mobile and connected devices. Specific program information and updates for press are available at pbs.org/pressroom or by following PBS Communications on X (formerly Twitter).
F1Statistics sourced from AARP, the National Alliance for Caregiving (NAC), RAND, PHI and Caregiving Youth Research Collaborative (CYRC) via the American Association of Caregiving Youth (AACY).
Sources:
Caregiving in the United States in 2020 (June 18, 2020) https://www.aarp.org/pri/topics/ltss/family-caregiving/caregiving-in-the-united-states/
Valuing the Invaluable 2023 Update: Strengthening Supports for Family Caregivers (March 8, 2023) https://www.aarp.org/pri/topics/ltss/family-caregiving/valuing-the-invaluable-2015-update/
America’s Military and Veteran Caregivers: Hidden Heroes Emerging from the Shadows (September 24, 2024) https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA3212-1.html
Direct Care Workers in the United States: Key Facts 2023 (September 11, 2023) https://www.phinational.org/resource/direct-care-workers-in-the-united-states-key-facts-2023/
Report on Caregiving Youth in the U.S.: Progress and Opportunity (December 2023) https://aacy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/CY-White-Paper_Final-.pdf
