Christian Health Introduces Harbor at Ramapo Ridge, Expanding Specialized Geriatric Behavioral Health Care in Northern New Jersey

Wyckoff, NJ (May 6, 2026) – Christian Health today announced the launch of Harbor at Ramapo Ridge, a specialized inpatient behavioral health program inside Ramapo Ridge Behavioral Health Hospital, designed for older adults and individuals experiencing cognitive decline.

Created to meet the growing and increasingly complex mental health needs of the geriatric population, Harbor at Ramapo Ridge provides a safe, structured, and compassionate care environment for individuals experiencing dementia-related behaviors, depression, anxiety, and co-occurring medical conditions that may be difficult to manage in traditional outpatient settings or general inpatient units.

“Christian Health has been part of this community for more than a century and was home to the area’s first mental health hospital,” said Stephen J. Dumke, LNHA, FACHE, President and CEO of Christian Health. “Harbor at Ramapo Ridge continues our legacy of innovation and leadership in behavioral health by expanding access to specialized inpatient care for older adults, giving families and clinicians a trusted resource close to home.”

Harbor at Ramapo Ridge brings together medical, psychiatric, nursing, rehabilitation, recreational, and pastoral care in one integrated, geriatric-focused setting. It includes a specialized dementia care unit, daily physician oversight, individualized medication management, therapeutic programming, memory-focused activities, and discharge planning designed to support long-term stability and reduce avoidable readmissions.

The program also emphasizes whole-person care, addressing each patient’s emotional, social, and spiritual well-being while actively involving families throughout treatment.

“We created Harbor at Ramapo Ridge with one simple but powerful goal: to build a program where our older patients feel safe, respected, and understood,” said Alexis Totaro, MSN, RN, WHNP-c, CARN-AP, Vice President of Operations, Behavioral Health Services and Administrator/Chief Nurse Executive. “At the same time, we wanted to offer families a place to turn during some of their most difficult moments, where they can find guidance, reassurance, and hope.”

Harbor at Ramapo Ridge’s physical environment is intentionally designed to support healing, with bright, open spaces, abundant natural light, calming aesthetics, and scenic views. Staff are trained in dementia-capable, restraint-free care and specialized geriatric de-escalation techniques, helping to reduce confusion, agitation, and stress while preserving dignity and comfort.

“Our goal is to help individuals return to the best version of themselves before they leave our care,” said Dr. Vaibhav Vyas, Associate Medical Director at Ramapo Ridge Behavioral Health. “We often see someone come in distressed and withdrawn, and within weeks they’re smiling, engaged, and reinvigorated. That’s why we do this work.”

Patients may be discharged home, to assisted living, or to another level of care within Christian Health’s continuum, including Southgate Special Care, one of only four licensed communities in New Jersey dedicated to older adults with cognitive disorders and behavioral disturbances associated with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.

With Harbor at Ramapo Ridge, Christian Health is expanding access to specialized inpatient behavioral health care for older adults across northern New Jersey and the surrounding region, offering families and referral partners a trusted, high-quality option close to home.

For more information about Harbor at Ramapo Ridge, please visit our website. To make a referral, call (201) 848-5500 or email BHAdmissions@ChristianHealthNJ.org.

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About Christian Health

Founded in 1911, Christian Health is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering health, healing, and wellness through a comprehensive continuum of mental health services, senior-life communities, rehabilitation services, and educational programs. Guided by its mission to offer a listening ear, a helpful hand, and supportive guidance throughout every stage of wellness, Christian Health continues to evolve to meet the needs of the community while providing care in a compassionate environment consistent with the Christian values on which it was founded.

Media Contact:
Kelly Tanis
(201) 848-5921
KTanis@ChristianHealthNJ.org