Wait… Am I a Caregiver?

Bradley Cooper’s upcoming documentary, Caregiving, premieres on PBS on June 24. The film explores the lives, challenges, and stories of real people caring for loved ones.

During a screening event and panel, Cooper shared his own experience.

He said:

“I didn’t ever even realize that I was one.”

His words point to something many people experience: providing care without ever identifying as a caregiver.

It raises a simple but important question: Why don’t more people recognize that they’re caregivers?

Image from PBS. Caregiving, premieres on PBS on June 24

Cooking meals, driving to doctor’s appointments, managing medications, cleaning the house—these are everyday tasks many people do for aging parents, spouses, or relatives.

For most, it’s just what’s expected of them as a daughter, brother, spouse, or friend.

It often starts small. You help where you can. You add it to your to-do list, assuming this is just what family does.

You may still go to work. You may still find time for other hobbies. And because of that, it doesn’t feel like caregiving.

But it is. And the demands of caregiving will suddenly become more demanding.

Bradley Cooper’s experience mirrors what about half of Americans who provide care for a loved one don’t see themselves as caregivers, even when they take on many of the same responsibilities.

The Process Of Identifying As A Caregiver

There’s a concept called Caregiver Identity Theory. It describes how someone gradually moves from “just helping” to recognizing themselves as a caregiver.

But many people take a long time to make that shift. One reason is that the term “caregiver” can carry emotional weight. It can feel like an admission of lost independence or a signal that one needs help. In many communities and workplaces, that can be misinterpreted as a sign of weakness.

There’s also the perception that caregiving is defined solely by stress, exhaustion, and sacrifice. And while those challenges are real, they aren’t the whole story. Many caregivers also report a deep sense of meaning, connection, and fulfillment in the role.

Another reason could also be the lack of awareness. Caregiving often begins gradually—with small tasks that build over time—so it’s easy to miss the moment when helping becomes caregiving. And it’s not just the caregiver who may miss it. Friends and family may also view these actions as “just helping out,” rather than recognizing them as signs of someone taking on a caregiving role.

Image from PBS. Caregiving, premieres on PBS on June 24

Why Recognizing It Matters

There are many reasons why identifying as a caregiver is important, but two stand out for me:

1. You realize you are not alone. More than 24 million people in the U.S. provide care to a family member. There’s a vast community of people going through similar experiences. Once you identify as part of that group, it becomes easier to connect with others, find shared stories, and access information that makes the journey less isolating.

2. You’re more likely to seek support. Identifying as a caregiver can make it easier to seek help—whether it’s through respite care, financial support, or mental health services. Not because you are failing, but because caregiving is demanding, and no one should be expected to carry it alone.

What We All Can Do

Communities, employers, policymakers, and healthcare organizations all have a role in helping people recognize and support caregivers too.

That includes promoting awareness, reducing stigma, creating eldercare-friendly workplace policies, and expanding access to caregiver resources.

The more we talk about what caregiving looks like—the quiet, everyday ways people show up for their loved ones—the more likely people are to recognize themselves in the role.

If you’re caring for someone—whether daily or occasionally—your role matters.

It’s not always visible. It’s not always named. But it’s real .And you don’t have to do it alone.