TOMS RIVER, N.J. — In a deeply personal and wide-ranging interview on Talking Toms River with host Jeff Dings, Laura Piccirillo, Director of Health and Human Services and Municipal Alliance Coordinator for Toms River Township, shared her journey from caregiver to advocate and administrator, emphasizing the township’s role in supporting seniors and caregivers across the community.
Piccirillo recounted how her advocacy began when her husband, a 9/11 first responder, was diagnosed in 2004. “Back then there was no help for the responders,” she said. After his passing, Piccirillo began working at the township’s senior center, eventually rising to director.
Her department operates programs that support caregivers, assist homebound seniors, provide Medicare counseling, and connect residents with services such as home modifications, heating assistance, and nutritional support. “People forget about the caregivers,” Piccirillo said. “My job is to help navigate the system and advocate for the voiceless.”
Community-based care and connection
The Toms River Senior Center, located at 652 Garfield Avenue, serves residents 60 and older, as well as those on Social Security Disability. Piccirillo outlined a wide range of activities available at the center, including exercise classes, health screenings, educational programs, and intergenerational initiatives involving local high school students.
The center recently hosted a health and wellness fair that drew more than 400 attendees and 65 vendors, with high school students assisting seniors throughout the event. “They were dancing with our seniors,” Piccirillo said. “Some of our seniors may not see their grandchildren, and some of these kids may not see their grandparents. Watching them connect is beautiful.”
She emphasized that the center is more than a social venue. It provides vital outreach to isolated and struggling residents, including helping vulnerable seniors access services and improve their quality of life.
A mission rooted in experience
Reflecting on her own experience receiving support from the township when her husband was terminally ill, Piccirillo credited the community’s help during that time as a turning point. “I will be forever grateful that the last year of my husband’s life, we didn’t have to worry,” she said. “Now I’m able to give back.”
She also credited Mayor Dan Rodrick for placing her in a role where she could maximize her impact. “I’m so proud to represent Toms River Township and thankful for the mayor for putting me in this position,” she said.
More than recreation: a lifeline for seniors
Beyond parties and programs, Piccirillo’s office connects seniors to critical resources and serves as a conduit between residents and public benefits, including Medicaid, Medicare, and food assistance. As a certified State Health Insurance Program (SHIP) counselor, she helps residents understand complex insurance options during open enrollment and throughout the year.
For those unable to visit the center, her team also conducts outreach directly in homes, addressing issues from hoarding to elder neglect. “We are boots on the ground,” she said, describing one case involving a 99-year-old veteran with dementia who was relocated to a veterans’ home through coordinated township efforts.
