Russo still dedicated to helping others

Sister Crawley, Russo said, quickly replied, “Corinne, it’s not a career, it’s a vocation.” The former director of what is now called the Division of Elderly Affairs couldn’t agree more.
  “If you are not into this population, if you do not have a passion for bringing about change to improve the lives of older people, then you should get out of the field; you don’t belong there. I learned that from Sister Crawley,” Russo said, adding that the late nun was a pioneer in adult day care.
  Russo has worked with seniors for more than 36 years. She started in the field as the founding director of the Salvatore Mancini Center on Aging in North Providence. She served as president and chief executive officer of Care Management of Rhode Island Inc., a statewide agency funded by the state; and she founded and operated CCR associates ltd., a geriatric care management service aimed at keeping seniors in control for their care whether they remained at home or moved into a nursing or assisted living facility.
  “That was a wonderful, wonderful business,” she said, “until I received a call from the governor’s office.” Following a series of lengthy interviews, former Gov. Donald Carcieri appointed Russo director of what was then called the Department of Elderly Affairs (DEA), a position she held for six years.
Russo considers the establishment of The Point, a resource of services for seniors and adults with disabilities, as one of her more significant accomplishments as DEA director. Tired of seniors having to press several buttons on their telephones before obtaining sought-after assistance, Russo wanted older adults and their caregivers to have access to a one-stop clearinghouse of information provided by a person.
In addition, she wanted the resource available during some off-business hours so family caregivers with daytime jobs could seek assistance.
  Marylouise Gamache, program director for The Point, said Russo looks at services from the consumer’s point of view. “If it is good for the senior, then she will go forward (with the idea),” Gamache said.
  “She is kind, she plays fair … and she is always looking out for the people she serves,” said Gamache, who has been with the point since 2005.
  Russo is also proud of the way the DEA implemented Medicare Part D and integrated it with the Rhode Island Pharma-ceutical Assistance to the Elderly program. “We did a fabulous job signing up Rhode Islanders for Part D,” she said.
  A licensed clinical social worker and certified advanced social worker case manager, Russo said, “I always felt very fortunate to work with older people … I learned a new lesson every single day. It was either a new way of looking at life or how they managed to get through the difficult times.  … That personal learning always brought me new strength and new learning skills.”
Now Russo is deputy director of the Rhode Island Department of Human Services, where she is focused on working with families and veterans in need of a variety of services.
  “My newly developed passion is working to make programs and services as accessible as possible for families in need, for the family that has come across a problem through no fault of its own and needs the guidance and support of federal and state programs,” Russo said. “I want to facilitate the change in the way we provide access to services.”
  While The Point has helped with the availability of senior services, Russo, who is in her 60s, stresses everyone can bestow something extremely valuable upon people in their later years.
  “The greatest gift you can give them is time,” Russo said. “They don’t need a new sweater. What they need and want is a loved one to visit with them, to share a meal with them. That is what brings them the greatest pleasure.” 
  Editor’s note: Salute to Seniors is a feature aimed at celebrating the many significant contributions and accomplishments of men and women age 50 and beyond. Salute to Seniors is sponsored by the Bankers Life and Casualty Company regional office in Warwick and “Senior Digest.” To nominate someone for a salute, send the person’s name, address, telephone number and reason for nomination to Senior Digest, 36 French Drive, Seekonk, Mass., 02771, or to sdpublisher@gmail.com. Bankers Life can be reached at (401) 732-5213.