Thank you, and a New Caregiving Documentary
Hello again,
First, thank you for the kind words of love and support in response to my recent post about becoming an accidental caregiver for my mom. The DMs, texts, phone calls, and emails have been nourishing to me and my family, and we are grateful for these bright spots of encouragement. Please forgive me if you’ve reached out and I've been slow to get back. The response has been overwhelming, in the best and most supportive way, and I'm – we're – still processing.
For today's post, I had planned to talk about calling 911. As an accidental caregiver, I've had to call 911 multiple times for family medical emergencies, and I want to share some insights into how using our own Family's Healthcare Playbook has helped me better engage with EMTs and other first responders during these stressful times. It's an important topic, one I'll revisit next week in greater detail.
Instead, I'd like to highlight a timely new documentary on PBS, simply titled Caregiving. Note: I'm not involved or affiliated with this documentary in any way. I had no role in the funding or creation of this film; I don’t personally know the families or healthcare professionals featured, and I'm not being compensated to talk about it. However, watching this film unlocked a deeper level of knowledge and understanding of the complexities of the caregiving experience in this country. Even as someone who's been an accidental caregiver for many years, it was eye-opening. This documentary is a valuable, much-needed contribution to the caregiving conversation, and I think others would benefit from seeing it too.
"There are only four kinds of people in this world. Those who have been caregivers. Those who currently are caregivers. Those who will be caregivers. And those who will need caregiving." – Rosalynn Carter, Former First Lady and Founder of the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregiving
The TL;DR* on this Caregiving Documentary
Executive-produced by award-winning actor Bradley Cooper and narrated by award-winning actress Uzo Aduba, Caregiving is a deeply personal look at caregiving in the United States. This film is made for and by caregivers: both Mr. Cooper and Ms. Aduba were caregivers for their parents as they battled lung cancer (Mr. Cooper's dad) and pancreatic cancer (Ms. Aduba's mom), respectively. And lest you think this film only focuses on celebrities, who arguably might have more access and resources than the rest of us, it does not. This is a documentary about everyday people from all walks of life. It weaves together personal, real-world stories with a historical look at the evolution of care and caregiving in this country. My three key takeaways from Caregiving are:
1. This Film is a Love Letter to Caregivers.
It shines a light on all of us, both those who are caregivers by profession and those, like me, who are accidental or unexpected caregivers. It illuminates the joys and challenges we all face, whether caring for a parent, a child, or another loved one.
While watching the documentary, I was reminded that everyone handles grief differently; some turn inward, and some reach out for help. I was particularly touched by one of the caregivers featured in the film, who discovered a community online that became an emotional and financial support system for him. For me, as I moved deeper into my caregiving journey with my mom, my instinct was to close ranks. Even now, I’m still getting comfortable discussing this here on LinkedIn. But, I'm pushing through because I hope that in sharing my voice, I can help bring attention to some of the hidden challenges and opportunities of caregiving in this country.
2. You May See Yourself in This Documentary.
I certainly did. Through the personal stories of the families featured in this film, you realize that this could be your dad, your mom, your spouse, your child, your friend, or your neighbor. From Boca Raton, Florida, to Brooklyn, New York; from newlyweds to an expectant mother, from veterans to aging parents, this documentary shows the full spectrum of caregiving across many life stages and communities. The stories of these caregivers in the film can be raw and painful. There are elements of hope in each story, but parts are difficult to watch.
3. Caregiving is Largely Invisible and Undervalued in the U.S.
This documentary shines a powerful light on the state of caregiving in the U.S., underscoring what so many of us accidental, unexpected, and professional caregivers already know: that caregiving is an essential yet undervalued labor largely carried out by women, especially women of color. The film highlights the emotional and financial challenges caregivers face, the growing care crisis fueled by an aging population and the COVID-19 pandemic, and the urgent need for more dialogue and systemic policy change.
Millions of professional caregivers perform this essential caregiving work without adequate pay, benefits, or job security. This lack of support contributes to economic insecurity among caregivers and their families, which is intertwined with our broader economic and social crisis. It's all connected. This film speaks to the urgency of addressing these and other care-related issues, calling caregiving "the foundational issue for contemporary American society."
Where to Watch the Caregiving Documentary
The two-hour documentary premiered earlier this week on wellbeings.org, PBS, and the PBS YouTube Channel. It’s currently streaming in the U.S. on the PBS App and PBS.org. After you watch it, or if you've already seen it, please drop me a note. I'd love to hear your perspectives on this important work.
“Care is what makes us human. Care is the first and most fundamental human connection that we need from the time that we are born throughout our lives.”- quote from Caregiving documentary
#CaregivingPBS #WellBeings #CaregivingFilm #ShareYourCaregivingStory #UzoAduba #RosalynnCarter #FamilyCaregiving
*TL;DR -- Too Long; Didn't Read