Highlighting resilience, purpose, and the transformative power of caregiving in a 30-minute documentary premiering June 24, 2025 @ 9:00 p.m. — following the national PBS documentary Caregiving by Bradley Cooper premiering on June 24, 2025 @ 7:00 p.m.
Caregiving in the Ozarks shines a light on the diverse and often invisible experiences of family and professional caregivers across southwest Missouri, amplifying their voices and advocating for meaningful change.
The new documentary Caregiving, tackles the reality of caring for loved ones. The two-hour program examines the challenges and triumphs caregivers face and the broader context of the cultural and economic conditions in the U.S. that have driven the country’s care system toward crisis.
Caregivers are the quiet heroes of our communities—navigating emotional struggles, financial burdens, and medical crises every day, often without recognition or support.
KSMU News Director Michele Skalicky hosted a virtual panel discussion featuring local caregivers and experts from organizations including AARP, Senior Age, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Preferred Hospice, and Engage Mobility.
Their discussion explored the realities of caregiving in southwest Missouri and how we can build a more supportive future.
*Previously Recorded* Watch on YouTube
Caregiving in the Ozarks is a multimedia community engagement initiative co-produced by Ozarks Public Television and KSMU Ozarks Public Radio as part of the acclaimed “Sense of Community” series. This project shines a light on the diverse and often invisible experiences of family and professional caregivers across southwest Missouri, amplifying their voices and advocating for meaningful change.
Combining in-depth storytelling with public engagement, the initiative partners with local caregivers, researchers, healthcare providers, and support organizations to document the real challenges faced by those who provide care — from financial hardship and workplace strain to emotional burnout and systemic gaps in support. It also highlights resilience, purpose, and the transformative power of caregiving.
The project includes radio features, television segments, a virtual panel discussion, and curated social media content, culminating in a 30-minute documentary premiering June 24, 2025 @ 9:00 p.m. — following the national PBS documentary Caregiving by Bradley Cooper premiering on June 24, 2025 @ 7:00 p.m. Distribution will span the month of June across all platforms to foster awareness, empathy, and connection.
By elevating personal stories and expert insight, Caregiving in the Ozarks seeks to reframe caregiving not just as a crisis to be managed, but as a critical, valued role that deserves recognition, policy support, and communal care.
Coping with Caregiving
Holding On and Letting Go
Tackling Missouri’s Dementia Crisis
Redefining Care: Finding Support & Recognition
Community & Culture: Supporting Caregivers
The Need for Connection
Overlooked & Undervalued: Rural Caregiving Realities
Awareness Rising: The Future of Caregiving
AARP Missouri
Tips and support for family caregiving, from providing personal care, medical management and financial guidance to finding a healthy work-life balance.
https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/
Burrell Behavioral Health
Behavioral health services and support for the whole family.
https://www.burrellcenter.com/about-us
empower: abilities
Through empower: abilities Consumer Directed Services program, caregivers can help individuals maintain their independence by helping with tasks like bathing, dressing, laundry, errands, housekeeping, and toileting.
https://www.empowerabilities.org/programs-and-services/caregiver-and-nursing-services
enGAGE Mobility
enGAGE Mobility exists to help meet the transportation needs of families affected by disability. For parent caregivers of children who use wheelchairs, one of the biggest obstacles can be safely and simply getting from point A to point B. enGAGE Mobility offers online resources with information about vehicle options, builds awareness, and issues grant funding to families in need. Learn more at engagemobility.org.
Family Caregiver Alliance
For more than 40 years, Family Caregiver Alliance has worked at the local, state, and national levels with the mission to improve the quality of life for family caregivers of adults with cognitive (Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, stroke, head injury, etc.) and physical disabilities through services, education, advocacy and research. https://www.caregiver.org/connecting-caregivers/services-by-state/
Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services serves the citizens of Missouri by working to improve the health and quality of life for Missourians of all ages. https://health.mo.gov/seniors/aaa/caregiver-services.php
Missouri Senior Resource Line: 1-800-235-5503
The Missouri Senior Resource Line is a service of the Department of Health and Senior Services, Division of Senior and Disability Services, that connects older adults and their caregivers to local assistance. When the caller contacts the Missouri Senior Resource line they will be prompted to enter their zip code, which will connect them with their local area agency on aging who can assist with a variety of programs and services.
SeniorAge
SeniorAge is the Area Agency on Aging (nonprofit) that serves seniors 60+ and their caregivers in 17 counties and the Ozarks with hundreds of senior-focused programs tailored to the needs of our communities. https://senioragemo.org/resources/caregiver-support
United Way Ozarks Region
211 Resource Hotline
211 is a free, confidential service that connects callers with specialists trained to listen and then match needs with nonprofit resources. https://uwozarks.org/211-resource-hotline/
The new documentary Caregiving, with executive producer Bradley Cooper, tackles the reality of caring for loved ones. The two-hour program examines the challenges and triumphs caregivers face and the broader context of the cultural and economic conditions in the U.S. that have driven the country’s care system toward crisis. Narrated by award-winning actress Uzo Aduba, Caregiving brings audiences into the daily experiences of several family and professional caregivers across the U.S. as they share the realities associated with providing full-time care and the often-complicated challenges and extraordinary moments and emotions, including joy, that are part of the care relationship.
Watch OPT Tuesday, June 24, at 7 p.m.
The new documentary Caregiving, with executive producer Bradley Cooper, tackles the reality of caring for loved ones.
Now Stream on the PBS App
Watch on OPT Tuesday, June 24, at 7 p.m.
Here is a collection of resources categorized to help family caregivers find the guidance and assistance they need.
In the Philippines, caring for older adults is deeply embedded in the culture, and Christine brings that to her job. While she loves her work, the sacrifice is enormous and she misses her own children.
Adrienne Marioles is a millennial who put her nascent adult life on hold and moved back to Florida to care for her sick mother. An exploration of a beautiful caregiving journey from isolation to community, and from resentment to purpose.
Lynnette Canedy is a female caregiver who gave up her career in LA to move back home to a small town in Kentucky and care for her disabled, veteran father who has dementia, a host of other medical issues and is no longer able to communicate clearly.
