Stories of Service: Army Veteran Joseph Muccio’s Journey at the Long Island State Veterans Home

Since opening in 1991, the Long Island State Veterans Home (LISVH) has cared for more than 18,000 U.S. veterans. One of those veterans is Joseph Muccio, an Army veteran who served in Vietnam. After undergoing a leg amputation, Muccio knew exactly where he wanted to go for rehabilitation: the Long Island State Veterans Home.

Thanks to generous community members, the LISVH provides skilled nursing care, short-term rehabilitation and medical model adult day healthcare program for those who served. This specialized care meets almost every need, allowing the veterans to experience a true “home away from home.”

“The staff here are out of this world — nurses, aides. It’s like one big family. They’re very dedicated and committed,” said Muccio.

Muccio came to LISVH by way of his experience with the Vietnam Veterans Association (VVA) and a recommendation from a friend. “This place is the best place in the world,” he said. “I belong to the VVA out here, so I used to come here 10 years ago. A friend of mine was in this home before, so I knew where to go. And they took me right away.”

While the medical care helped him recover physically, it was the sense of daily life and community at the home that left the strongest impression on Muccio. Veterans in the residential and day care program can enjoy programming on-site and in the community. They take field trips to local attractions, like Jake’s 58 Hotel & Casino, chartered fishing trips and the Long Island Ducks. Special musical events and entertainment are also brought in regularly. 

The home feels like a family, where a common experience of service and love of country bonds the residents across branches, ages and conflicts. Muccio feels a link to all his fellow veterans.

“I love mingling with veterans. They don’t have to be Army, like I am, [or] whatever branch of service. We’re all like one big family. And that’s what’s good about this place: the camaraderie,” Muccio said. 

Though his time at the home as a short-term rehab resident is coming to an end, Muccio plans to continue attending the adult day healthcare program once a week to keep in touch with all his new friends. “I love the adult day care,” he says. “I can’t leave. You know how many friends I’ve made here? Over 300. I can’t leave here, you know? I love this place.”

Click here to learn more about the Long Island State Veterans Home.

-Written by Amanda Olsen
-Photos by Kristy Leibowitz