Beginning with the premiere of “Caregiving,” a new documentary from PBS, WETA Washington, D.C., and executive producer Bradley Cooper, Detroit PBS aims to bring awareness, centralize resources, and amplify caregiver stories through storytelling and programming

Watch the trailer for the new documentary “Caregiving” here.

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In an effort to deepen its commitment to caregiving for older adults, Detroit PBS has announced the launch of a one-year initiative to bring to light the issues facing the caregiving community. The initiative will serve caregivers throughout Southeast Michigan and beyond, addressing the diverse needs, from resource navigation to mental health, of those who provide care for loved ones.

This endeavor will be accomplished with a lead grant of $250,000 from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation. The Foundation is partnering with Detroit PBS to elevate the critical role of caregivers by supporting the needs of family caregivers through engagement and resources. It is also investing in efforts toward making the career path for paid caregivers more desirable to help fill the unmet demand for their services.

“Too often, people caring for loved ones, whether it is family, friends, or neighbors, don’t see themselves as caregivers. And when you do not identify with that role, it becomes harder to find the support and resources that are meant for you,” said Misha Stallworth West, program officer at the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation. “That’s why this initiative from Detroit PBS is so powerful. It’s about validating the caregiving experience, uplifting their stories, and connecting folks to the tools and services that are already out there but too often out of reach.”

Detroit PBS will use the Foundation’s grant to amplify stories of caregivers through journalism, community engagement and digital assets, with the long-term goal of building empathy, identifying gaps in policy and driving systemic change.

Well Beings, a multiplatform, ongoing campaign from public media created by public media station WETA that addresses critical health needs in America, has also committed grant dollars of $10,000 to subsidize programming and community engagement around caregiving.

“Accomplishing substantive change for the caregiving community and the infrastructure to support longterm caregiving require collaboration and support,” said Detroit PBS CEO and President Rich Homberg. “Every person will be a caregiver at some point in their lives, and we are fortunate that the good people at the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation, along with those at WETA Well Beings, recognize the urgent need to align efforts in bringing awareness, programming and resources to the communities we serve as they navigate caregiving for their loved ones.”

The effort kicks off prior to the premiere of the Well Beings documentary “Caregiving,” which is available to stream now on the Detroit PBS app and premieres on broadcast television Tuesday, June 24, at 9 p.m. This powerful two-hour film, with award-winning actor Bradley Cooper as executive producer — from his production company Lea Pictures, as well as WETA Washington, D.C., and Ark Media — features a diverse group of caregivers who share their personal stories of challenge and triumph as well as interviews with experts as they fight to give caregivers the security and support that they provide for so many others. Weaving in history and context, the film follows people at the forefront of the caregiving movement.

Caregivers are unsung heroes, selflessly providing comfort and physical and emotional support to their loved ones. It is a pervasive yet often invisible challenge. According to recent studies, 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. These caregivers endure emotional strain, financial hardship, and isolation. More than likely, at some point in our lives, we all will become a caregiver for someone we love.  

Caregiving in America faces multiple pressures of an aging baby boomer generation and rising life expectancy. Additionally, the first Generation X’ers will be turning 60 this year and heading into retirement and be challenged by cost burdens and a lack of adequate support systems while caring for aging parents.

Caregiving in the U.S. is reaching a breaking point. Through a comprehensive local engagement campaign anchored by the “Caregiving” documentary, Detroit PBS will elevate awareness, spark critical conversations, destigmatize mental health challenges and deliver meaningful, ongoing support for caregivers of older adults in Southeast Michigan and beyond through various community events and special programming.

In addition, there will be original caregiving stories on Detroit PBS journalism initiatives, One Detroit and American Black Journal, throughout the year along with interviews on PBS Books with policymakers and subject matter experts.

The station will also air the following caregiving-related documentaries:

• “Hiding in Plain Sight: Youth Mental Illness,” an unstinting look at the obstacles of youth mental illness
• “Matter of Mind,” an intimate portrayal of three families confronting the unique challenges of Alzheimer’s
• “Life, Unexpected,” a docuseries that explores the heartbreaking realities of childhood cancer

Detroit PBS’s previous experience with similar initiatives, along with the reach of its PBS Books platform, uniquely positions it to lead this caregiving effort. Detroit PBS has partnered with caregiving organizations, producing impactful programming and facilitating public forums such as the Solutions Journalism Collaborative Public Forum on Caregiving in Detroit.

Detroit PBS’s long-term commitment to caregiving underscores its dedication to addressing one of the most pressing and universal challenges faced by families and communities. Through continued collaboration and innovation this initiative will not only support caregivers today but creates a framework for educating and preparing the public for this stage of life in the future.

Further, as a sign of Detroit PBS’s fidelity to its Health and Wellness awareness and support pillar, the station will continue to partner with many mental health experts, advocates and organizations to improve the community’s well-being. In the past these partnerships have included Kevin’s Song, Michigan’s largest conference on suicide awareness and prevention, and a town hall in partnership with WETA Well Beings, which explored the mental health challenges facing LGBTQIA+ youth.

To learn more about Detroit PBS’s health and wellness content and resources, visit the Detroit PBS mental health page.

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About The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation:

The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation is a grantmaking organization dedicated primarily to sustained investment in the quality of life of the people of Southeast Michigan and Western New York. The two areas reflect Ralph C. Wilson, Jr.’s devotion to his hometown of Detroit and greater Buffalo, home of his Buffalo Bills franchise. Prior to his passing in 2014, Mr. Wilson requested that a significant share of his estate be used to continue his life-long generosity of spirit by funding the Foundation that bears his name. Based in Detroit, the Foundation has a grantmaking capacity of $1.2 billion over a 20-year period, which expires Jan. 8, 2035. This structure is consistent with Mr. Wilson’s desire for the Foundation’s impact to be immediate, substantial, measurable and overseen by those who knew him best. For more information, visit www.rcwjrf.org.

About “Caregiving” Production:

“Caregiving” is a production of Lea Pictures and WETA Washington, D.C., in association with Ark Media. Support for “Caregiving” is made possible by Otsuka America Pharmaceutical Inc.; Comfort Keepers; CareScout Holdings, Inc.; 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. National outreach and engagement partners for “Caregiving” include Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers; Grantmakers In Aging; Milken Institute | Future of Aging; Global Coalition on Aging; Wallis Annenberg GenSpace; Elizabeth Dole Foundation; National Partnership for Healthcare and Hospice Innovation; National Minority Health Association; Fred Rogers Productions; Caregiver Action Network; The Coalition to Transform Advanced Care; American Association of Caregiving Youth; Caring Across Generations; SHRM and SHRM Foundation; National Alliance for Caregiving; Lutheran Services in America; Center to Advance Palliative Care; PEOPLE; and Forbes.com. The public can join the conversation by using #ShareYourCaregivingStory, #CaregivingPBS and #WellBeings, visiting wellbeings.org, or following @WellBeingsOrg on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube or Threads.

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 forthcoming documentary “The American Revolution;” series and documentaries by Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., including “Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr.;” and health content from Well Beings, a multiplatform campaign. More information on WETA and its programs and services is available at weta.org.