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Miamisburg husband honored as Caregiver of the Year

Leroy Carbaugh is recognized for his devotion to his ailing wife.

Miamisburg resident Leroy Carbaugh was one of 13 Ohioans recently inducted into the Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame and awarded the 15th Annual Caregiver Award for his care to his wife, Ruth.

Kristin McAllister Miamisburg resident Leroy Carbaugh was one of 13 Ohioans recently inducted into the Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame and awarded the 15th Annual Caregiver Award for his care to his wife, Ruth.

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By Kristin McAllister, Staff Writer 11:51 AM Saturday, June 13, 2009

MIAMISBURG — When his ailing wife of 60 years needed 24-hour care 10 years ago, Leroy Carbaugh never questioned who would tend to her.

“You just do what you have to do, and you learn,” said Carbaugh, of Miamisburg.

That dedication earned the 82-year-old Carbaugh the Elder Caregiver Award from the state of Ohio — only 13 Ohioans were honored. Carbaugh also was inducted into the Ohio Senior Citizens Hall of Fame.

When it was determined Ruth Carbaugh had been suffering a series of mini strokes, Carbaugh quit his job as a general maintenance worker for the Miamisburg School District, and made caring for Ruth his new, full-time job — something he did with great love, compassion and no regrets.

“I just felt that it was my job as her husband,” he said. “We both lived a long time, and we’re at the age where you don’t know what tomorrow will be.”

Carbaugh tended to her every need, carrying her to and from bed, giving medications and doing her daily personal care. At night, Carbaugh comforted his wife and calmed her.

Carbaugh did the cooking, cleaning and shopping and even took up new hobbies, including quilting, planting flowers, birding and vegetable gardening.

Then in May, “I started to notice a difference right away,” he said, about Ruth’s final weeks.

Carbaugh started worrying about who would care for Ruth if something happened to him. Coming to his aid, family members and volunteers from the Catholic Social Service Respite Program and Southern Care Hospice helped a few hours a week.

“There’s help out there, but you got to get your name in and wait your turn,” he said.

On May 22, Ruth, 80, died.

Four days later, Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, Barbara E. Riley, director of the Ohio Department of Aging, Ohio House Speaker Armond Budish and members of the General Assembly honored Carbaugh and 12 others.

“Mr. Carbaugh personifies the wedding vow: ‘In sickness and in health,’” Riley said, adding that informal caregivers provide 80 percent of all home care nationwide.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-9338 or kmcallister@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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