Echo Rest Home

Pros

• The staff at Woodbury Heights is responsive, kind, compassionate, and attentive, delivering outstanding care.
• Aides and nurses provide especially supportive care during the final stages of life.
• Vivian at the front desk welcomes visitors warmly with a smile.
• The third-floor aides and nursing team at Woodcrest deliver dedicated and compassionate care.
• The facility is described as amazing, with friendly and helpful staff.
• Brooke and Alyssa are exceptional at assisting rehabilitation.
• Since the new administration took over, care and staff attitude have significantly improved.
• The nurses are very kind and hardworking.
• The environment is clean, welcoming, and warmly maintained, with excellent therapy.
• The transition to new ownership is associated with improved care and a positive atmosphere, and many would highly recommend the facility.

Cons

• A majority of the aides couldn't possibly care less.
• Pushing the emergency button is apparently only for entertainment.
• Someone had to sit in soiled clothing while staff claimed there were only two workers.
• They describe peeling dirt off their mother's oxygen filter to clean it themselves.
• You'd need to be pretty high functioning to make it through at this facility.
• They believed it would improve with new owners but have yet to see that.
• It's unclear how to reach anyone beyond reception with complaints.
• A staff member berated the visitor after their relative had just died, which felt inappropriate.
• The diet was changed to soft foods, removing soup and apple juice, causing refusal to eat or drink.
• At night, nurses did not respond; two aides were sleeping, requiring intervention.
• The final day was extremely traumatic due to perceived insensitivity from staff.

Review

Woodbury Heights Nursing Home presents itself in the reviews as a place of remarkable warmth and capable care for many families, while also revealing pockets of frustration and concern that some visitors have faced. Across the testimonials, there is a strong sense that the staff - especially the aides and nurses - often go above and beyond to be responsive, kind, compassionate, and attentive. In particular, several families highlighted how the aides and nursing teams on the Woodcrest side have provided meaningful support during the most challenging times, and how their loved ones seemed well cared for in the days and weeks surrounding rehabilitation and end-of-life moments. A visitor singled out Vivian at the front desk for greeting with a warm smile every time they visited, illustrating how front-line staff can set a tone of welcome and reassurance. The third-floor staff, too, received praise for their dedication and compassionate care, helping to create an atmosphere of trust in what is often a difficult journey.

Many reviewers recount consistently positive, "amazing" experiences marked by friendly, helpful staff across multiple roles. Visitors note that the environment can feel nice and relaxing, exactly what they hoped for when visiting a parent or relative. Tours and first impressions were described as professional and organized, with Susan specifically mentioned for giving a thorough tour that left the visitor impressed by the level of maintenance and the overall care standard. Across the facility, people mention cleanliness, good communication, and front-desk personnel who contribute to a welcoming atmosphere. The social worker, nurses, and front-line teams are frequently cited for their approachable, personable manners, reinforcing a sense that the staff genuinely cares about both residents and families.

A recurring theme in the reviews is the impact of ownership and administrative leadership on the quality of care. Several comments describe a noticeable improvement since new ownership and administration took over, noting "extreme improvement" in how care is delivered and how staff behave. Phrases like "things have DEFINITELY gotten better here" and "the management is improving in many ways" show that the changes at the top have rippled through the daily experience, with aides described as kind and attentive and physical therapy described as fantastic. Families also point to practical benefits of the environment - well-maintained grounds, a spacious outdoor area, and a general sense of warmth and energy in the building - that reinforce the perception of a facility that is attentive to both comfort and rehabilitation.

Therapy and recreation receive high marks from many reviewers as well. OT, PT, and other therapies are frequently highlighted as strong points, with specific names like Alyssa (OT) and Craig (PT) called out for their professionalism and expertise. The active recreation program and social activities - such as concerts for residents and opportunities for meaningful social engagement - are cited as contributing to a positive atmosphere. The overall tone for many is that care extends beyond basic nursing duties to a more holistic approach that includes meaningful activities, engagement with staff, and a sense of community that residents and families can rely on during recovery or ongoing care.

However, the reviews are not without serious cautions and negative experiences. A number of comments express frustration with perceived gaps in care and staffing challenges. One reviewer wrote frankly that a majority of the nursing aides "couldn't possibly care less," describing long delays, a sense that emergency calls were not treated with urgency, and personal indignities such as peeling dirt off of equipment and being told there were limited staff available. These perspectives highlight experiences where families felt let down by response times and by the quality of attention during critical moments. There are also pointed criticisms of how some situations were handled emotionally and professionally, including a distressing account of a staff member who berated a visitor in the moments after a loved one passed away, an incident that understandably caused deep hurt and called into question the facility's bedside manners and support for families in shock.

Care transitions and ongoing care questions also surface in the reviews. Some families describe changes in diet and care plans that led to confusion or resistance from residents, such as a shift to a soft-food-only diet that resulted in a resident refusing meals. Requests for further clarification or a prompt evaluation by a speech therapist were not always met with timely action, leaving families feeling uncertain about the next steps in their loved one's care. There is also mention of a perception that the facility's leadership should address these kinds of communications and care decisions more promptly and sensitively, particularly during fragile moments when families are trying to understand what is happening with a loved one.

Finally, there are candid accounts of nighttime care concerns, including reports of staff being unavailable during the night or even sleeping, which understandably raises alarms about safety and reliability. Some reviewers recount experiences where family members had to intervene or stay overnight to ensure a relative received attention, a situation that is understandably distressing and suggests areas where staffing and supervision could be strengthened. Despite the negative episodes, several reviews acknowledge that there are outstanding staff members who perform admirably and that, overall, the facility has made meaningful progress under new ownership.

Taken together, the collection of reviews paints a nuanced portrait of Woodbury Heights and its Woodcrest building. The facility is praised for its people - the compassionate aides, skilled nurses, attentive therapists, and supportive front-desk and administrative staff who welcome families and ensure residents feel cared for. The improvements associated with new ownership and the visible upgrades in care quality, environment, and programming are acknowledged with optimism by many families. Yet there are clear indications that consistency in staffing, timely communication, and sensitive handling of difficult moments remain areas for ongoing attention. The strongest takeaway is a facility that, for many residents and families, offers genuine warmth, professional care, and a hopeful path forward, while also facing real challenges that management, staff, and leadership will need to continue addressing to ensure every patient and family member feels heard, respected, and securely supported.

Physicians

• Plainview Medical Group PC (2 miles)
• ENT and Allergy Associates -Melville (4.9 miles)
• Central Nassau Guidance (6.4 miles)
• Caring Pediatric Associates (8.1 miles)
• Northwell Health Physician Partners Obstetrics and Gynecology at Commack (8.4 miles)
• Dr Pillitieri (9.2 miles)
• Di Giovanna Family Care Center (9.4 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (2.1 miles)
• Rite Aid (2.6 miles)
• Walgreens (3.1 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.5 miles)
• Walgreens (3.8 miles)
• King Kullen (4 miles)

Transportation

• LIRR - Syosset Station (2.3 miles)
• Lirr (3.2 miles)
• Greenlawn LIRR Station (5.9 miles)
• LIRR - Hicksville Station (6.2 miles)
• LIRR - Bethpage Station (7.2 miles)
• Lirr - Farmingdale Station (7.8 miles)
• LIRR - Westbury Station (8.8 miles)

Restaurants

• The Bryant (3.4 miles)
• Prime Restaurant (3.9 miles)
• McDonald's (4.3 miles)
• Gossip Bar & Restaurant (6.4 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (7.4 miles)
• Taco Bell (7.8 miles)
• McDonald's (8.3 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (3.6 miles)
• Mongo's Coffee (3.7 miles)
• Starbucks (4.6 miles)
• Panera Bread (4.8 miles)
• Starbucks (5.1 miles)
• Starbucks (8.3 miles)
• Starbucks (8.6 miles)

Parks

• Mill Dam Park (3.7 miles)
• Tad Lane Park (5.2 miles)
• Bailey Arboretum (6.5 miles)
• Bethpage State Park (7.3 miles)
• The Dog Park (9.6 miles)
• Eisenhower Park (9.8 miles)

Hospitals

• Northwell Health-GoHealth Urgent Care (4.8 miles)
• Nassau University Medical Center (9.4 miles)

Theaters

• Regal Westbury Imax & RPX (6.5 miles)
• AMC DINE-IN Huntington Square 12 (8.2 miles)
• AMC DINE-IN Levittown 1 (8.4 miles)
• Regal Ua Farmingdale (8.6 miles)
• Regal Deer Park & IMAX (10.3 miles)
• AMC Roosevelt Field 8 (10.4 miles)