More than seven million Americans help older persons live in the community despite limitations on daily activities. Many adults also care for adult sons and daughters with disabilities. Family members and other informal caregivers truly are the backbone of our long-term care system. In Ohio alone, they contribute more than 1.1 million hours of unpaid help to others, care valued in excess of $10.4 billion. Nationally, family caregivers save taxpayers $257 billion.
Each year, the Ohio Department of Aging selects a handful of devoted caregivers and honor them for the work they do to make Ohio a better place, while symbolically recognizing the combined value of all informal caregivers throughout the state.
Nominate A Caregiver
View Past Honorees
2009 Elder Caregivers of the Year
Click on the images below to download a print-quality version, ~150kb
Third image shows honoree with Allen Burnett, past president of the Ohio Association of Area Agencies on Aging, and Barbara E. Riley, director of the Ohio Department of Aging, at the awards ceremony in Columbus, May 26, 2009.
Camilla Bennett, Maineville
Since 1996, Camilla Bennett has cared for her son, Jeremy, who was injured in a motorcycle accident. She also has provided care for her aging parents and recently became caregiver to her husband due to a cardiac-related illness. She is also home-schooling her 14 year-old grandson.
With rehabilitation, Jeremy has regained some function, but he still needs 24 hour supervision. In addition to providing his personal care, Camilla oversees his meals and medications, makes and receives many phone calls on his behalf and determines what care or treatment is best for him. Jeremy refers to her as "Super Mega Mom."
Before Jeremy's accident, Camilla lived with her elderly parents for two months, caring for her father, who suffered a broken hip, and her mother, who was battling pneumonia. Fifteen months after Jeremy's accident, Camilla's parents moved into her home, where she cared for them until they passed away.
Camilla is now caregiver to her husband, Larry, after a recent hospitalization and diagnosis of congestive heart failure. She constantly watches out for him, reminding him when he is doing too much and making sure he gets the rest he needs.
Jeremy spends some weekends at an extended care facility, where he enjoys visiting, talking and singing to the residents who rarely have visitors. It also provides Camilla with a much needed break to deal with her own health concerns.
Camilla is a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother and daughter. She learned how to balance caring for a disabled adult child while running a business from her home and maintaining relationships with her other children and grandchildren.
Once Larry returns to good health, the Bennetts plan to provide care on the weekends for Larry's mother, who now requires someone to be with her 24/7.
Leroy Carbaugh, Miamisburg
Leroy Carbaugh took exceptional care of his wife, Ruth, who required a full-time caregiver for 10 years until her recent passing.
Ruth was unable to do any activities of daily living and was unaware of family or visitors. Leroy picked her up to transfer her to or from her bed or wheelchair. He took care of all of her needs including changing, feeding, bathing, administering her medications, scheduling her medical appointments, monitoring her discomfort issues and waking up at night to comfort her.
Leroy took caregiving very seriously, while at the same time he continued to keep himself occupied with activities in his home and neighborhood. He does his own shopping, cooking, cleaning, yard work and finds time to mow the lawns of neighbors and family who live close by. Volunteers from the Catholic Social Service Respite Program and Southern Care Hospice, along with family members, gave him some needed time off of his caregiving duties.
Leroy greets everyone with a smile and is so friendly that it is a pleasure to visit with him. He does not complain about his situation, but is realistic. He had a recent scare about his own health and was only worried that he would be too ill to take care of Ruth.
Leroy lives his faith. He is an example of being faithful to his wedding vows, "In sickness and in health." The Carbaughs recently had a quiet family celebration of their 60th wedding anniversary.
Anita Chambers, Struthers
Anita Chambers has been a volunteer caregiver in the Mahoning Valley's Volunteer Service to Seniors Faith in Action program since 2005. The program helps seniors remain independent in their own homes. Volunteers provide elderly friends with transportation, grocery shopping, telephone reassurance and friendly visits.
Anita's care recipient, Julie, is 89 years old, recently moved to a nursing facility and calls Anita her "gift from God." Julie walks with a cane, has a pacemaker and experiences difficulty when there is high humidity, a frequent occurrence in Northeast Ohio.
Anita says that every time she visits Julie, she tries to bring along a snippet of something that happened that will make Julie laugh and help her remember that she is still a part of the world. Julie's family, who visit her as often as possible, live hundreds of miles away, so Anita's visits lessen her loneliness. Every Friday, she takes Julie to her hair appointment, shopping or to the bank. If she has errands of her own, Julie rides along.
Anita has contributed to her community in a variety of ways. She is a Christian and an active member of her church. Formerly an elder, she is now a deacon. She sings in the choir and assists in church meal preparation for the local Rotary club. She also is treasurer of Eastminster Presbyterian Women. After she retired, she volunteered to help as an AARP tax preparer for senior citizens.
When praised for her kindness and service to Julie, Anita typically places the focus on the other people, saying, "I need Julie as much as she needs me."
Donald "Boze" Fasig, Wooster
Don "Boze" Fasig was an over-the-road tractor-trailer driver until he retired early to move home and help his aging parents.
His mother, Gladys who is 97, has had a form of dementia for more than 10 years. Eight years ago she broke her hip and, since then, has been wheel-chair bound and unable to bathe or dress herself. Because of worsening dementia, she is incontinent, often does not understand simple instructions and often cannot feed herself. Boze has to bend and lift her many times per day to move, dress and change her.
His father, Rex, who died recently, had congestive heart failure, diabetes and also suspected lung cancer with edema of the left arm. These conditions prevented him from balancing and walking for any period of time and he needed to use a wheelchair for all trips outside the home. There are times when his father could not dress or undress himself because of shortness of breath or confusion. Boze was there by his side to help as needed. His father took numerous prescription drugs, which Boze organized and administered. Boze jokes that he has made so many trips to the pharmacy that he could jump into the back seat of his car and it would automatically go to the pharmacy.
Boze researches and keeps track of every drug that both his parents have taken and ensures that those with bad side effects are not prescribed again. He droves them to their frequent doctors' appointments. When help was not available, Boze had to push both wheelchairs at the same time. Boze cooks and serves 3 hot meals every day, in addition to doing yard work and other household duties both indoors and outdoors.
Boze's siblings and other family members gather at their parents' home every Thursday to perform specific weekly chores to help Boze out, which he greatly appreciates.
Although Boze has had to put his own life on hold, he is dedicated to caring for his parents and would never relinquish his responsibilities. Boze provided a happy, healthy atmosphere that allowed his parents to remain together (they've been happily married 78 years) in the home they built and love so much.
The Ferkel Family, Fremont
The Ferkel Family (Gary, Joy and their daughter, Faith) dedicated themselves to the care of Ralph and Shirley Ferkel.
Before his death, Ralph was bed bound and required daily care, including preparing food, distributing his medication and changing soiled clothing. Shirley suffers from several conditions, including a combination of ailments that make it very hard for her to swallow food. She must be coached through every meal. She also has broken a hip and occasionally uses a walker.
Gary Ferkel holds a full-time job and takes care of his home, as well as his parents' home and finances. He spends every day with them and buys food and medications as necessary. Joy is an adjunct instructor for Terra Community College in Fremont, and she assists in their care.
Faith is most responsible for her grandparents' daily care. She lives with them and feeds her grandparents 2 to 3 times a day. She is a self-employed piano instructor, and she has been attending pre-nursing classes at Terra Community College during times when her parents can provide care. Currently, she is waiting to be accepted into a nursing program.
Shirley receives home health care two days a week and home delivered meals from WSOS Community Action Commission. Hospice also has helped acquire a bed for Ralph.
Because of the dedicated care of their family, Ralph and Shirley were able to live their lives in their own home.
Joyce Henning, Wadsworth
Joyce Henning was Al Henning's main caregiver for more than 20 years during his battle with ALS.
When Al was admitted to Hospice of Visiting Nurse Service, he was wheelchair-bound and had to be bathed. With a feeding tube, Al was non-verbal, but he appeared to be alert and understand conversations. Hospice provided nursing care in his home to help with symptom management and chaplain services. The ALS Society also provided some assistance.
Joyce made their home wheelchair-accessible and purchased a modified van to drive him around in. She set up a computer that he could use to do accounting work for their church, so that he could still contribute. She drove Al to church and the grandchildren's soccer games for as long as he was able to attend. She took him to family functions and made life as normal as possible, in spite of his limitations.
Joyce always cared for Al with love and affection. After his death, she is now helping another family in her community that is stricken with ALS. She offers support and encourages their conversations.
Joyce always cared for her husband, Al, as if it were perfectly normal to do so, and never wanted any thanks for it. She often seemed shocked when someone told her what a wonderful job she did.
Norma Lusk, Delphos
For 15 years, Norma Lusk has cared for her mother following a stroke and for her two sisters after they were diagnosed with cancer. Now she is glad to be able to take care of her husband.
Norma and Mike Lusk had been married a few years when Mike was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. As the MS progressed, he began to need assistance with many of his daily activities, such as bathing and dressing. Norma helped him with these tasks, as well as preparing his meals and helping him with transfers.
Although caregiving is challenging, Norma and Mike find ways to overcome the difficulties. They relocated to be closer to family. They checked into local services that are available. They have an emergency response system, and they have modified their new home to make it more "user-friendly," installing a ramp, handicapped accessible shower and commode and grab bars throughout the house.
Through the Caregiver's Support Program of PSA3 Agency on Aging, Mike receives a personal care aide four hours a week to provide Norma with respite. They have also received S.A.F.E. (Simple Accurate Family Education) Training, learning how to safely meet personal care needs and about proper lifting and transferring. They also plan to use a weekend respite so Mrs. Lusk can spend a weekend with her daughter.
Norma finds comfort in knowing that, with her help, Mike is able to remain home with her instead of living in a long-term care facility.
Lois Maier, Columbus
Lois Maier cared for her mother, Gladys Postlewait, for 30 years until Gladys passed away at age 95½.
During the last 10 years of Gladys' life, she required extensive home care. Lois worked diligently to ensure caregivers treated Gladys as if she were their own mother. Assistance from family friends and two part-time caregivers allowed her to balance her mother's care needs while working full time.
In her last year of life, Gladys required 24-hour care. Mrs. Maier took extensive steps to provide a safe environment. Sensors were installed outside Gladys' bedroom door to alert Lois when she got up in the night. The only bathroom was equipped with safety items. She placed the current date on the television each day, prepared food in color-coded containers to assist outside caregivers. A special light would turn on to alert Gladys, who was hard of hearing, of incoming phone calls.
Lois tried to keep her mother active for as long as possible and to help her to see other relatives. She had her van reconfigured to accommodate her mother and her wheelchair. They traveled together to family reunions in Kansas, despite the complications of caring for her on the road. She recognized and honored her mother's desire to keep close family ties.
According to Lois, caring for Gladys in the home allowed her feelings of self-worth and dignity because she could continue sewing her baby quilts, pot holders and other crafts that were so important to her.
Margaret May, Cardington
Margaret May has provided care for her husband, Billy, for the past 47 years and continuously for the past 15. At age 29, Billy May suffered a paralyzing stroke. During his eight years of rehabilitation, Margaret was right there by his side.
Following years of hospital stays and therapy, Billy was able to teach again. There were other health issues over the years, but he continued to teach. He even ran for public office and was elected as mayor of Cardington, serving for nine years.
In 1981, Billy was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. He is now totally dependent. His food must be prepared for him, everything he drinks has to be mixed with a thickening agent and minor things like putting toothpaste on his toothbrush have to be done for him. Margaret has arranged to have help from county agencies. The senior van is available for trips to the Dr. and other necessary appointments. A nurse from the health department calls regularly. An aide comes to help with Billy's bath four days a week. Margaret, however, has the 24 hour responsibility of his care. He is currently taking eight medications daily, is on oxygen and has a catheter. A home health nurse comes regularly to irrigate the catheter, but Margaret takes care of everything else that he needs.
Margaret still managed to find time to serve her church and community. She served for many years on the Cardington Public Library board and was later given the position of Clerk-Treasurer. She is a member of the United Methodist Women's Group, was a member of the Helping Hands Fund, served on the Altar Guild and taught Sunday school for many years. She also volunteered at the Hope Line Crisis Center. When the person who had been taking her and Billy to the local MS support group was no longer able to take them, Margaret invited them to hold the group meetings in their home.
In Margaret's words, "If you care and love someone, it's not work."
Neisel Palmer, Groveport
In August, 2006, Neisel Palmer decided to bring her husband, Cecil, home from the nursing facility where he had lived for 2½ years. Even while there, she had been his primary caregiver.
Cecil is legally blind and had a stroke that left him partially paralyzed. He cannot perform any activities of daily living on his own. He also has suffered from heart attacks, pneumonia and congestive heart failure. He has a feeding tube, through which he gets all his medication and hydration.
Neisel assumes Cecil's total care for at least 16 to 18 hours a day and often for 24 hours a day. She prepares and administers all of his medications and hydration, bathes him and tries to give him the best quality of life she can. She had one of their bathrooms made wheelchair-accessible so that he could enjoy showers at least once a week.
Her only respite is getting her hair done every week or two and going to the grocery store during that outing. She is usually back at the house in less than two hours. She hires aides who come for approximately three hours in the morning and three hours in the evening on most days. However, it is not unusual for Neisel to have no help at all on some days. A VA nurse visits about once every four to six weeks.
Although caring for a person in Cecil's condition is extremely challenging, Neisel prefers to take care of her husband of 65 years in their own home where she knows he is getting loving care. She is proud that the Veterans Administration has rated her care of Cecil as "excellent."
Karen Prouty, Lore City
When her father was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, Karen learned how to take care of him at home, where he wanted to be. At the same time, Karen's mother was diagnosed with kidney failure.
After her father's death, Karen focused on her mother, who lives on a limited income. As she took her mother to her various appointments, Karen investigated the Medicaid spend-down program, which allowed her mother to get the help she needed.
Thanks to her research, Karen found a process that would allow her mother to receive a kidney transplant, yet would not conflict with her religious beliefs. She took her for follow-up testing and check-ups. With help from the doctor's office, she made sure that her mother would be able to have the expensive anti-rejection medication she needed.
Even though Karen now has a "real job," she continues to pick up prescriptions and groceries on her way to visit her mother. She takes her to appointments, shopping or out to eat. On a recent doctor visit, her mother was diagnosed with a basal cell carcinoma. Karen was there throughout the procedures.
Karen has cared not only for her parents, but also for members of her husband's family. His uncle lived with them for several years before he passed away and she cared for his grandmother who lived next door.
According to her daughter, Karen is one of those people that you want around when you need someone you can really count on.
Patty Snyder, Gallipolis
Patty Snyder and her husband traveled eight hours round-trip every weekend to keep her parents independent in their home. When her mother fell and broke her hip in January 2006, Patty and her husband moved out of their own home, quit their full-time jobs and moved in with her parents to provide 24-hour care.
Patty's father is 89, has Alzheimer's disease and needs total care for bathing, dressing and grooming. Her mother is 83, has been diagnosed with congestive heart failure, has a history of falls with fractures and has had multiple heart attacks. Both of her parents depend on her to handle all aspects of meals, laundry, housekeeping, medication administration and all legal and financial matters.
Patty is supported by her husband and receives ten hours of respite a week from a combination of community services through the Care Coordination program and a local senior center. She has no other family members to relieve her as a caregiver or assist with the care that she provides to her parents.
Patty has continued to keep her commitment to her mother and father, keeping them both together in their own home. She has made many sacrifices over the years in caring for them. Her compassion and tireless effort demonstrate her devotion.
Donna Sullivan, Nelsonville
Donna Sullivan is the primary caregiver for her husband, Gordon, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2002 and has required total care for the past four years. Donna spends her days attending to all Gordon's personal needs, including grooming, bathing, supervision and companionship.
Recently, Gordon's health has declined and he spent two months in a nursing home for rehabilitation. Through sheer determination, Donna brought him home to care for him.
Two of her children help as much as possible, but Donna is the primary caregiver in spite of her own personal health issues. She continues to care for Gordon with kindness and a smile. She often puts off her own needs in order to meet Gordon's needs first.
Donna receives some assistance through the Ohio University Alzheimer Speech and Hearing Program and through the Area Agency on Aging's Caregiver Advocacy and Alzheimer Respite Programs.
When asked how she handles the stresses of caregiving, Donna states that her faith in God sees her through and she takes it one day at a time. If not for her loving care, Gordon would not be able to remain in the warm, caring environment to which he is accustomed.
