The new PBS documentary Caregiving, executive produced by Bradley Cooper and narrated by Uzo Aduba, offers an unflinching, deeply personal look at what it means to care for a loved one in America today. It’s a two-hour emotional journey into the lives of family caregivers—people who are often unseen, unsupported, and under immense pressure. Now streaming on PBS.org, the film invites viewers into kitchens, living rooms, and hospitals across the country, where caregivers are doing some of the most important—and underrecognized—work in our healthcare system.
Whether you're a paid caregiver, an unpaid family member supporting someone through aging, illness, or disability, or simply someone trying to understand what others are going through, Caregiving makes one thing clear: this isn’t a niche issue. It’s a national one.
More than 53 million Americans provide unpaid care for family members, and another 5 million serve as paid caregivers. These aren’t fringe roles—they are the foundation of how we care for one another. And yet, many caregivers are struggling. The film highlights the emotional, financial, and physical toll caregiving takes—and the lack of resources and recognition they often face.
"Caregiving is the rent we pay for our time here on Earth." — Uzo Aduba
Caregivers contribute an estimated $600 billion in unpaid labor to the U.S. economy each year. That’s more than the country spends annually on all out-of-pocket healthcare costs. Yet these efforts are rarely acknowledged or supported in any formal way.
America’s care infrastructure is fractured and overwhelmed. Demand is rising sharply as our population ages, but the systems supporting caregivers have failed to keep pace. Many family members are left navigating a confusing maze of disconnected services—Medicaid, private insurance, community supports—with no clear roadmap.
And the paid caregiving workforce is in crisis, too. The median income for a direct-care worker is just $22,000 per year, and turnover rates hover around 26%. According to PHI National, the U.S. will need to fill nearly 7.9 million direct care jobs by 2031 to keep up with demand.
These conditions not only create burnout but also limit access to reliable care for those who need it most.
What makes Caregiving so powerful are the voices at its center. We hear from daughters, sons, spouses, and neighbors. People who’ve traded careers for caregiving. People who’ve lost income and insurance—and found purpose, too. The documentary doesn’t shy away from the heartbreak, but it also highlights the triumphs: moments of connection, advocacy, and unwavering love.
These stories underscore why caregiver support programs, training, and community-based services aren’t just helpful—they’re essential. And why a better future for care will require solutions that address both workforce conditions and family needs.
If you’ve ever felt like you were the only one navigating this maze—you’re not. Caregiving validates what so many families experience but rarely talk about. It gives voice to the quiet strength of caregivers and helps create a sense of belonging and community.
At CareTime, we serve the agencies and providers who walk beside these families every day. We see the operational pressures they face—staffing challenges, billing complexities, compliance issues—but behind it all is the same mission: to support those who care. This documentary isn’t just relevant—it hits home. It reflects the very real need for systems, tools, and policies that support both the caregivers and the care infrastructure.
And we believe technology has a role to play. With the right tools, providers can reduce administrative burden, improve communication, and empower caregivers with more time, insight, and support.
There’s no sugarcoating it: the system is broken. But the film also shines a light on where change is happening. From local respite programs to national caregiver movements and funding partnerships, momentum is building. Families are sharing their stories, advocating for policy change, and finding ways to support one another.
Organizations like Otsuka and the Davis Foundation are investing in solutions that prioritize caregiver well-being, from community-based services to tech-enabled access to mental health and scheduling support. The future of care depends on our ability to value caregivers—and that starts by listening to them.
You can watch Caregiving now on the PBS app or PBS.org. Watch it with your team, your family, or someone who’s been in the trenches with you.
Because caregiving is about love—but it’s also about action. And it’s time our systems reflected that.
PBS and the Well Beings campaign invite caregivers to share their stories using the hashtag #ShareYourCaregivingStory. If you’re a caregiver—past or present—your voice matters.
Let this documentary be the start of something: a conversation, a connection, a change. Because America’s care system won’t change until we see it clearly—and now, thanks to Caregiving, we can.