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Bradley Cooper’s ‘Caregiving’ highlights U.S. care crisis through real caregiver stories
May 27, 2025 Leave a Comment
Discover the personal experiences of caregivers providing for loved ones, and the challenges and triumph they face each day in the two-hour documentary, Caregiving.
From executive producer Bradley Cooper, this is the story of a group of paid and unpaid caregivers navigating the ups and downs of this deeply challenging and immensely meaningful work. 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.
Caregiving premieres 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 24, on PBS Wisconsin and is available to stream now online and on the free PBS app.
According to recent studies, in addition to 5 million paid caregivers nationally, it is estimated that between 53 million to 105.6 million American 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.
Among the personal stories viewers will hear: Malcoma Brown-Ekeogu devotes herself to her husband’s care in the final stages of his illness, even when she feels alone in the journey. As the home health aide to Sherril Johnson, who has multiple sclerosis, Zulma Torres provides care with the same kindness that she would for a family member. Matt Cauli juggles care for his young son with care for his wife, Kanlaya, in the wake of a health crisis – keeping the family together against the odds. Kim and Guillaume Olloz raise a daughter with disabilities in a world not built for people with disabilities – in a home filled with love and care. Tracy Eacret experiences the laughter and the tears of a bittersweet season with her father as his end-of-life caregiver. And the Gutierrez family contends with a chronic illness that makes a caregiver out of their tender-hearted 14-year-old son.
“The caregiving experience I had with my father inspired this documentary,” Cooper said. “During his battle with lung cancer, I came face to face with the overwhelming realities of taking care of a loved one. 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.”
Share your 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.
Donna Olson says:
I am a care giver of many, a teacher of many care givers, a daughter who provided care, a professional nurse. Caregiving comes from the inside – selfless personality, heart, empathy, patience, understanding, knowledge, ethics. One can teach knowledge but without the rest those in the need of care are vulnerable – especially those that cannot speak for themselves or have knowledgeable family advocates. I have experienced some people that have internal drive and understanding to be great caregivers but our processes, institutions, and systems burn them out. As pay rises the desire for money doesn’t necessarily bring with it the personalities that make a care giver. As people age longer with more comorbidities, more medical interventions, more expectations, regulations, and demands – the system has not kept up with providing the staff and time to accommodate the skill level needs and expectations. My mother died from a fall – I know if I had been closer, if the staff were not knew and had more time and understanding that would not have happened. I used the example in all of my classes.
Alyssa Beno says:
Donna, thank you so much for sharing your personal experiences and insights on caregiving. Our condolences on the loss of your mother.