Willows at Ramapo Claims Covid Under Control

Covid-19, which shut down New York for months in 2020, continues to rear its ugly head in one form or another five years after hitting America’s shores.

The Willows at Ramapo, formerly Ramapo Manor, was purchased by CareRight in 2016 and underwent a multi-million-dollar renovation by its new owners,  reopening in 2017. A recent outbreak of Covid in the Suffern rehabilitation facility in July has rattled many in the community.

One Chestnut Ridge resident, who spoke to the Rockland County Times on condition of anonymity, said his elderly parent caught Covid after being sent to the Willows from Good Samaritan Hospital for rehabilitation. Two days after being admitted, she was diagnosed with the virus; after being discharged from the Willows, she ended up back in Good Samaritan with pneumonia shortly thereafter. Fortunately, she has since recovered and has returned home.

“There were 16 cases of Covid that I found out about,” said the woman’s son, “though I saw on the news they claimed there were just a handful. Nevertheless, they should have been more diligent when letting residents share rooms, mingle or have outside visitors. I’m pleased that Rockland County’s Health Department is investigating the situation.”

In November 2024, Willows at Ramapo made the list of the top 150 nursing homes in New York State that received a low grade due to staffing shortages. A recent report released by NYS Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli said rural counties face a shortage of healthcare professionals. The Mid-Hudson region is also struggling to maintain staff as the dynamics of the population in Rockland continue to change. “Addressing gaps in the rural healthcare workforce to alleviate current shortages and plan for future demand will not only positively impact the health of people living in less populated areas of New York but could also create new jobs and bolster our rural economies,” DiNapoli said in a statement. However, the mid-Hudson is also in need of more staff in its hospitals and other healthcare facilities in the region.

The Willows at Ramapo advised the public that it had six confirmed cases of Covid, and all those diagnosed with the virus are being kept separate from the general population. Visitors are encouraged to wear masks while visiting. No one was available to speak to The Rockland Times on the issue.