Social Worker Joseph Alvino on How “Connecting with Others Can Really Help”

During the April peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City, social worker Joseph Alvino was sick with COVID-19 himself—“I had every symptom in the book,” he says—and was also mourning the loss of his father from the illness. But Joe, who has been with VNSNY for over 25 years, opted to continue visiting patients by telephone, per COVID-19 protocols, a heroic act that gave him purpose and provided patients with a compassionate and expert resource.

“It was important for me to keep my mind busy and active, doing the best I could to help my patients with all they’re dealing with,” says Joe.

A full-time social worker with VNSNY Home Care’s Queens Branch 1, Joe cares for patients coping with a variety of medical conditions and for their often-overburdened family caregivers. During that April peak, at a time when even the simple act of going to the grocery store felt riddled with peril, he helped clients get through the day, bringing them updated information on the virus and preventive measures and assisting them in navigating the anxiety and depression amplified by the need to socially distance from friends and family members.

Joe recalls one client telling him that his phone call made her day. “A phone call might not seem like much on the surface,” he says, “but considering what everybody was going through, it meant a lot. Reaching out and just having a conversation goes a long way, especially when people can’t visit with their families. I ask open-ended questions about their concerns, validate their feelings, and try to normalize what they are going through. I don’t sugar-coat things—they have every right to be anxious. It’s a frightening time, but connecting with others can really help.”

While the pandemic has limited access to many community resources and services, Joe and his fellow VNSNY Home Care social workers, along with colleagues across VNSNY, have coordinated closely to share information and problem-solve together to address the needs of patients and each other.

Joe is particularly grateful for the compassion he received from his colleagues, including Social Work Manager Jeri Goodman, as he battled COVID-19 and mourned the death of his father on April 14. “Everybody has been so supportive,” he says. “Everybody stands out. That makes a difficult situation just that much easier.”

To read more VNSNY Heroes of 2020 stories, click here.