I was a caregiver to my husband, a Vietnam veteran with PTSD, for 8 years. He was under 60, so services were very limited. Often, he was left alone as I had to work and his isolation contributed to his loneliness and depressive/anxiety illness; which eventually he died from - suicide.

I feel bad that although he was rated as 100% "service connected disabled," the VA did not have a visiting program or staff or volunteers who might have visited him and taken him to the movies or some outing to help him feel more connected to his community.

I feel my husband's quality of life would have been enhanced while he was alive and he may not have committed suicide - he would possibly still be alive if there were more services for him (consumer directed) and for me, the caregiver.