Caregivers for military members and veterans are at a higher risk of depression compared to any other group in the country, which can be fatal. Roxana Delgado, PhD, the director of the Caring for the Caregiver program at UT Health San Antonio, shared that nearly 24% of caregivers in a sample of 500 admitted to considering suicide since becoming a caregiver.
Roxana Delgado is a professor at the UT Health San Antonio School of Nursing and has been researching the health outcomes of military caregivers. She noted that family members caring for veterans with TBI or PTSD have a higher risk of feeling suicidal themselves. To address this issue, she developed resources to support caregivers and reduce feelings of hopelessness and isolation. One such resource is the Academy for Inclusive Care, which trains healthcare providers on how to involve caregivers in treatment planning.
Delgado believes that including caregivers in healthcare decisions leads to better outcomes and improved quality of life. Her work has been recognized by Science & Medicine, an initiative by The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio that explores how scientific discoveries made in San Antonio are transforming medical practices globally.
