PBS Documentary Sheds Light on History, Challenges, Triumphs of Caregiving

IRVINE, California—Comfort Keepers, a provider of homecare for seniors and adults who need assistance, announced its sponsorship support for Caregiving, the documentary for PBS created with executive producer Bradley Cooper, highlighting the challenges and triumphs of caregiving in America.

Narrated by award-winning actress Uzo Aduba (The Residence, Painkiller, Orange is the New Black), 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 United States, leading to a care system tipping into crisis. According to recent studies, in addition to five 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.

“At Comfort Keepers, we are dedicated to elevating the human spirit by supporting caregivers and their loved ones,” said Natalie Black, CEO of Comfort Keepers. “Supporting this transformative documentary aligns perfectly with our mission to foster understanding, compassion, and hope. This project celebrates the unwavering dedication of caregivers, shining a light on the people who are on the frontlines of the caregiving movement, while sparking meaningful conversations to inspire lasting change.”

Caregiving is set to premiere 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. The 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. 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.

“Caregiving is a journey of love and resilience,” said Saudia Gajadhar, chief happiness officer at Comfort Keepers. “Through supporting this documentary, we aim to bring much-needed recognition and resources to caregivers while fostering a sense of community for these unsung heroes.”

Caregiving includes a comprehensive engagement campaign supported by 330+ PBS stations across 150 markets. This effort extends to educational materials, digital content and a multi-channel marketing initiative, ensuring the message reaches caregivers where they are.

“Making this film has been an inspiring and humbling experience,” said Chris Durrance, director and senior producer, Caregiving. “Over the past 12 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.”

The public can join the conversation by using #WellBeings and #CaregivingPBS, visiting wellbeings.org, or following @WellBeingsOrg on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube or Threads.