On this episode of All Home Care Matters, host Lance A. Slatton sits down with Peter Murphy Lewis—filmmaker, marketing strategist, and founder of Strategic Pete—to explore how a professional opportunity evolved into a deeply personal mission in long-term care.
Peter’s journey into the industry didn’t begin with a family crisis or a lifelong calling. It started professionally, when he was recruited to work at an electronic healthcare records company backed by private equity. While building a podcast and interviewing executives in long-term care, something shifted. What began as a business role gradually became something far more meaningful.
As Peter listened to leaders, caregivers, and frontline professionals, he began connecting their stories to his own. Years earlier, while he was building a life in South America—meeting his wife and starting a family—his father was serving as the primary caregiver for Peter’s grandparents, both of whom were living with dementia. For five to ten critical years, Peter was physically absent from their care. That realization brought with it a sense of guilt—but also clarity.
Rather than dwell on what he couldn’t change, Peter decided to channel his skills into something restorative. With over a decade of experience in television and documentary filmmaking, he saw an opportunity: tell the stories of caregivers who rarely receive recognition. That vision became People Worth Caring About, a docuseries dedicated to highlighting the humanity, dignity, and passion within long-term care.
What began as a keynote conversation at the Nebraska Health Care Association turned into a life-changing project. The premiere—attended by Peter’s father, wife, mother, and son—cemented the emotional significance of the work. Since then, filming has expanded to states like Ohio and New Mexico, with momentum continuing to build.
At its core, Peter’s story is about alignment—finding the intersection between professional skill, personal history, and social impact. In long-term care, he didn’t just find an industry. He found a way to reconnect with his grandparents’ legacy and elevate the unseen heroes who care for millions of families every day. Our article on the People Worth Caring About docuseries picks up where this conversation leaves off.
Key Takeaways from the Conversation
1. Long-Term Care Is Not “A Place to Die” — It’s a Place to Belong
One of the biggest misconceptions Peter addressed is the belief that long-term care facilities are simply places people go at the end of life. Through his interviews across multiple states, he discovered something very different: community, purpose, and deep human connection.
From 15-year-old new hires to 70-year-old staff members who “retired twice” but returned because it felt like family, long-term care is an industry driven by heart. It’s emotionally demanding, yes—but it is also profoundly meaningful.
2. Dementia Carries Stigma — and That Needs to Change
A powerful insight emerged from Peter’s time filming in memory care units. Many families, and even broader society, carry an unspoken discomfort around dementia. There’s fear, avoidance, and misunderstanding.
Peter reflected on his own experience with grandparents who lived with dementia and how others sometimes reacted awkwardly around them. His work aims to normalize these conversations and remind families that dementia is not something to fear—it is something to meet with compassion.
3. Caregivers Are the Unseen Heroes
From certified nursing assistants to home care professionals, caregivers perform deeply intimate, essential work that often goes unrecognized. Peter shared his own experience becoming a CNA in Kansas to better understand the role.
One moment that stayed with him was bathing a woman the day before she passed away—an act of dignity and humanity that most of the world will never see.
He compared frontline caregivers to Navy SEALs: they perform critical work under pressure, often during holidays and double shifts, without public recognition. Their impact is quiet but immeasurable.
4. Love Languages Apply in Healthcare and Leadership
One of Peter’s most practical and compelling frameworks is applying the “Five Love Languages” to caregiving and leadership.
While working as a CNA, he discovered that a resident with severe dementia responded best to touch. By holding the resident’s wrist and gently engaging through physical reassurance, he was able to help him eat when others struggled.
He now applies this same principle in his business, Strategic Pete. Within the first week of working with interns, he intentionally identifies how they prefer to be appreciated—whether through words of affirmation, acts of service, feedback, or quality time. Understanding appreciation styles improves morale, retention, and culture.
The lesson: human motivation doesn’t change just because the setting does.
5. Storytelling Is a Strategic Tool — Not Just an Emotional One
Peter emphasized that long-form, broadcast-quality storytelling serves a different purpose than short social media clips.
While social media is transactional and fast-paced, immersive storytelling builds emotional connection and long-term perception shifts. Organizations are using episodes of People Worth Caring About for:
- Caregiver recruitment and retention
- Internal culture building
- HR onboarding
- Advocacy with policymakers
- Community education
In Nebraska, clips from the series have even been geofenced around the U.S. Capitol to influence lawmakers—demonstrating how storytelling can shape public policy conversations.
6. Intergenerational Connection Is Essential
Several stories highlighted the beauty of connecting youth and seniors—such as assisted living residents “valeting” prom-goers’ cars or students performing music inside facilities.
These traditions combat isolation and reinforce dignity for older adults while teaching younger generations respect and empathy. In a culture that often moves away from its elders, Peter’s work encourages movement toward them.
7. The Movement Is Bigger Than Senior Care
While the series focuses on long-term care, Peter’s broader goal is about human connection.
He described People Worth Caring About not just as a documentary project, but as a movement—one that challenges fear, isolation, and disconnection. In his words, it’s a movement for care, for dignity, and even “a movement against cell phones,” encouraging people to hold hands, have conversations, and truly see one another.
At its heart, the series asks a simple but powerful question:
What would change if we valued connection as much as productivity?
Rapid Fire Q&A
What inspired Peter to create People Worth Caring About?
A professional role in healthcare marketing evolved into something deeply personal. After reflecting on his father’s role as a caregiver for his grandparents with dementia, Peter decided to use his documentary filmmaking background to highlight the stories of caregivers who rarely receive public recognition.
What is the biggest misconception about long-term care?
That it’s simply a place people go to die. Peter discovered vibrant communities filled with purpose-driven professionals who view their work as a calling—not just a job.
What was one of Peter’s most powerful personal experiences in caregiving?
Becoming a certified nursing assistant and helping bathe a woman the day before she passed away. The experience underscored the dignity and humanity embedded in frontline caregiving.
How does Peter apply the “Five Love Languages” in his work?
He identifies how individuals prefer to be appreciated—whether through affirmation, touch, service, or quality time—and adapts his leadership and caregiving approach accordingly. He even uses structured daily reflection questions to understand his team members’ motivational drivers.
How can storytelling improve caregiver recruitment and retention?
Long-form, high-quality storytelling allows organizations to show their culture rather than simply describe it. Facilities use documentary clips for onboarding, recruitment, advocacy, and internal morale-building.
What broader impact does Peter hope the series creates?
A cultural shift toward connection. Beyond long-term care, he hopes to spark conversations about dignity, intergenerational relationships, and the importance of being present with one another in an increasingly distracted world.
Where can people watch the series?
Currently, episodes of People Worth Caring About are available on YouTube. Peter encourages viewers to watch while it remains publicly accessible, as discussions are underway for placement on major streaming platforms.
