Tag: caregivers

Every great story starts with someone worth caring about. On Varsity’s Roundtable Talk, documentary filmmaker Peter Murphy Lewis shared how his series People Worth Caring About gives voice to the caregivers whose compassion and commitment define long-term care communities across the country.

Peter shared how his grandparents’ positive experiences in senior living inspired his work and why focusing on staff stories helps shift public perception. He recalled moving encounters in hospice, lessons about dignity and language, and how storytelling can inspire young people to see caregiving as a calling.

The following are some fresh perspectives from the conversation. Check out the full episode here. 

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO CREATE “PEOPLE WORTH CARING ABOUT”?

It was a personal story that started it. When I began working in long-term care, I realized caregivers were fighting against a negative perception that existed even before COVID and was made worse by the pandemic. My own grandparents had incredible caregivers — people who treated them with love and dignity. But those caregivers rarely get the recognition they deserve. I wanted to change that narrative.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO FOCUS ON STAFF STORIES RATHER THAN RESIDENTS?

My background helped shape that decision. I used to host a TV show in South America similar to Dirty Jobs, where I interviewed people doing hard, meaningful work. So when I started this project, I naturally focused on caregivers. Looking back, that choice was “accidentally strategic.” When you put caregivers front and center, people don’t criticize — they empathize. You can’t look at someone like LaVita, who’s worked in memory care for 30 years, and not feel admiration.

WAS THERE A MOMENT THAT MADE YOU REALIZE YOU WERE ONTO SOMETHING SPECIAL?

Yes, on the very first day of filming in Nebraska. We visited a hospice called the Grace Space. One of the residents, Kim, was nonverbal, but she communicated with her CNA, a young man about 19 or 20, through her phone. She wrote that she felt blessed to have him caring for her and that she was excited to go to heaven, where she could dance again. That moment showed me how deep these relationships go — and I knew right then we weren’t just making a short film. We had a full season’s worth of powerful stories.

HOW DO CAREGIVERS STAY GROUNDED IN SUCH EMOTIONALLY DEMANDING WORK?

They’re stronger than I am. I think a lot of them have a love language rooted in service — they feel fulfilled by doing things for others. They find purpose in making people feel valued and comfortable. It’s not easy, but they have this incredible ability to compartmentalize and keep giving. Their hearts are built for it.

WHAT KIND OF IMPACT HAS THE SERIES HAD ON THE INDUSTRY?

The feedback has been incredible. Leaders from the American Healthcare Association called it an authentic depiction of long-term care. State associations are even using clips for advocacy — geofencing them around the U.S. Capitol so lawmakers see them. They’re also using the series for fundraising and to show the real faces behind the work. The reactions from caregivers themselves, and even my own father’s emotional response at the premiere, reminded me why this storytelling matters.

Want to hear more from Peter? Check out the full episode of Roundtable Talk for more fresh perspectives. Watch new episodes of Roundtable Talk on the Varsity website and on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and iHeartRadio.

QUOTES

“Caregivers were fighting against a negative perception, a negative narrative, a negative reputation that started before COVID but was accentuated during COVID by bad media.” (Peter)

“These people that were great caregivers don’t get the recognition that they deserve.” (Peter)

“If you put the caregiver at the front, nobody’s going to criticize a caregiver.” (Peter)

“People think of CNAs as cleaning bathrooms and changing diapers. They don’t realize how beautiful it is in the relationship that you get to make.” (Peter)

“Stories are pretty much the only thing that can change our opinion in life. Documentaries do it better because they’re long enough to show the contradictions of humankind.” (Peter)

“They just have a mechanism where they can compartmentalize and feel fulfilled making other people feel great through their acts of service.” (Peter)

“What a badge of honor if the nursing home is so great that your resident brings in the caregivers, recruits their own family.” (Peter)

“I love being forced to learn something that corrects where I was wrong.” (Peter)

“Curiosity is not just part of my personality—it’s an attribute I should strive for and that humans should strive for.” (Peter)

“Almost everything has been because of tears. There were moments where we just held each other’s hands and sobbed for minutes while the cameras kept rolling.” (Peter)

NOTES

Peter Murphy Lewis is a documentary filmmaker, storyteller, and advocate who co-created People Worth Caring About, a podcast and video series spotlighting frontline caregivers in long-term care communities across the United States.

People Worth Caring About shares authentic, heartfelt stories of caregivers working in retirement and long-term care communities. Through podcasts and a multi-part documentary series, the project elevates unsung heroes, challenges stereotypes, and helps shift the public narrative around aging and caregiving.

Peter began his career in long-term care in 2020 and later became a CNA to better understand the field. Drawing from his background in South American television, he adapted his storytelling format to senior living, resulting in a growing series now available on smart TVs nationwide. The project has expanded beyond Nebraska to states like Ohio and New Mexico, with more seasons in the works.

Peter was motivated to create the series after seeing caregivers struggle with negative perceptions of long-term care.

His grandparents’ positive experiences in a nursing home inspired him to spotlight caregivers who rarely receive recognition.

By focusing on staff instead of owners or executives, the series avoids criticism and builds empathy through authentic caregiver stories.

Filming in hospice revealed the deep, life-affirming relationships between residents and young caregivers.

Stories like Kevin calling his nursing home “my home” challenged Peter’s own assumptions about language and dignity.

Intergenerational and family-based caregiving, from Subway recruits to residents’ grandchildren, shows the community power of senior living.

Peter believes documentaries shape narratives because they’re long enough to show the contradictions of human nature.

His hope is to continue expanding the series to more states, changing perceptions of caregiving while also inspiring young people to join the field.