On November 8, 2025, family caregivers from across Southern California gathered for the 25th Annual C.A.L.M. (Caregivers Are Learning More) Caregiver Conference, an inspiring and free in-person event dedicated to empowering those who care for loved ones.
Hosted by the USC Family Caregiver Support Center and supported by SABRA Health Care REIT, Independence at Home, the California Department of Aging and the Los Angeles County Aging and Disabilities Department, caregivers spent the morning and early afternoon engaging in expert-led presentations, interactive wellness sessions, and a resource fair featuring support services ranging from elder law advice to dementia care resources.
The conference theme, “Empowered to Thrive,” was represented in sessions focused on brain health, resilience, and creative wellbeing. Participants connected, shared experiences, and left with tools to support both their caregiving journey and personal self-care. Midday breakout sessions offered everything from art therapy to digital literacy, celebrating the many ways caregivers can find strength and community.
A new highlight for 2025 was the Caregiver Film Festival, presented by the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology and sponsored by Front Porch, Sage Glendale Senior Living, and the USC Leonard Davis Arts and Healthy Aging Center. Held that evening at the school’s auditorium, the festival featured three powerful films exploring caregiving from multiple perspectives:
- Taking Care (2024)
Taking Care is a 38-minute documentary following the journey of acclaimed filmmakers Seth Rogen and Lauren Miller Rogen as they navigate the complexities and heartbreak of Lauren’s mother’s advancing Alzheimer’s disease.
Director: James Keach
Producers: Seth Rogen and Lauren Miller Rogen
- Caregiving (2025)
Caregiving is the story of paid and unpaid caregivers navigating the challenges and joys of this deeply meaningful work. Intertwining intimate personal stories with the untold history of caregiving, the documentary reveals the state and the stakes of care in America today.
Director: Chris Durrance
Executive Producer: Bradley Cooper
- Familiar Touch (2024)
Familiar Touch is a sensitive coming-of-old-age film that follows an older woman’s transition into assisted living as she navigates her relationship with herself, her caregivers, and her family amidst her shifting memories and desires.
Director: Sarah Friedland
Producers: Sarah Friedland, Matthew Thurm, Alexandra Byer
Following each screening, audiences heard from filmmakers, caregivers, and experts. The festival concluded with a reception, giving attendees a chance to continue connecting and celebrating the caregiving community.
C.A.L.M. Conference Sponsors
Caregiving Film Festival Sponsors
