What does it really look like to live and work inside a senior care community?
On this episode of the Tell Our Stories podcast, host Perry Chris sits down with Jaylene Carpenter, President and CEO of the Nebraska Healthcare Association, and Peter Murphy Lewis, producer and host of the docuseries People Worth Caring About. Together, they unpack the origin, vision, and unexpected impact of a seven-part series that takes viewers inside long-term care communities across Nebraska.
What began as a bold idea at an Innovation Summit — sparked by conversations between industry leaders and fueled by a desire to address workforce challenges — evolved into something far more powerful than a traditional documentary. Instead of creating a single 30-minute feature, the team pivoted mid-production when it became clear that every community had a story too meaningful to compress. The result: a multi-episode docuseries capturing assisted living, skilled nursing, hospice, independent living, and the full care continuum.
Over the course of 10 days, Peter embedded himself in seven diverse communities — rural and urban, nonprofit and faith-based, large and small — working alongside caregivers, housekeeping teams, volunteers, residents, and administrators. Rather than relying on statistics or industry talking points, the series centers on humanity: the dignity of cleaning a resident’s room, the humor shared during bingo, the quiet power of hospice conversations, and the deep bonds formed between caregivers and residents.
At its core, People Worth Caring About challenges the transactional lens often applied to healthcare. It reframes long-term care not as a monolith, but as a deeply relational ecosystem — one where purpose, vocation, and community intersect daily.
In this conversation, Jaylene and Peter reflect on:
- How the idea was funded and brought to life
- The intentional selection of facilities across Nebraska
- The emotional moments that exceeded expectations
- Why storytelling is critical to workforce recruitment
- And how the series is already influencing communities, policymakers, and future caregivers
If you have ever wondered what truly happens behind the doors of senior care communities — or if you know someone whose life is dedicated to caring for others — this story offers a rare and authentic window inside.
Key Takeaways
1. Big Vision Starts with a Simple Conversation
The series began at a Nebraska Healthcare Association Innovation Summit, where a bold idea — “What if we told Nebraska’s long-term care story differently?” — evolved from a hallway conversation into a statewide storytelling initiative. A foundation aligned around workforce development funded the vision, ensuring the project served a strategic purpose: recruitment, awareness, and industry reframing.
2. Workforce Storytelling Was the Strategic Anchor
The mission was not simply to document care — it was to elevate it. By showcasing CNAs, life enrichment staff, housekeeping teams, maintenance professionals, hospice workers, and volunteers, the series expands the public perception of healthcare careers beyond “nurses and doctors.” It reframes long-term care as a multi-disciplinary ecosystem with diverse entry points.
3. Humanity Over Transaction
One of the most powerful themes was the contrast between transactional healthcare and relational long-term care. Episodes highlight small but deeply meaningful acts — cleaning a room with dignity, removing curlers from a resident’s hair, playing bingo, or sitting bedside in hospice. These moments demonstrate that care is not procedural; it is profoundly human.
4. The Care Continuum Matters
The docuseries intentionally captured the full continuum — independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing, and hospice. Viewers see that senior care is not a single monolithic experience but a progression of support levels tailored to changing needs. This broader lens challenges stereotypes and educates audiences unfamiliar with how senior care truly operates.
5. Authenticity Beats Production Gimmicks
While Peter has produced high-action television in South America, this series required a different storytelling approach. There were no dramatic stunts — only daily routines and real conversations. The emotional impact came not from spectacle but from authenticity: laughter between caregivers and residents, tears during hospice reflections, and honest conversations about purpose.
6. Passion Has No Age Limit
From high school volunteers planting flowers to caregivers who returned from retirement because they “couldn’t stay away,” the series illustrates that long-term care is often a calling. Younger workers bring energy and early purpose; seasoned professionals bring depth and commitment. What unites them is shared vocation.
7. Representation Changes Perception
The ripple effects have already been tangible:
- Local communities hosting their own premieres
- Board members gaining a new understanding of what facilities actually do
- State senators seeing the industry through a more informed lens
- Increased interest in showing the series to high school and college students
The project moved beyond storytelling and into advocacy — equipping stakeholders with a visu