EASTON, Pa.- Northampton County Executive Tara Zrinski has started the process of unveiling her administration’s vision for fixing what has become a perennial problem in the county: Gracedale Nursing Home.

For years, the county-owned and county-run facility in Upper Nazareth Twp. has been plagued by staffing shortages, questions about its financial solvency, and a reputation for providing subpar care.

At the moment, the home’s problems seem even more pronounced.

Following an incident last July in which a nurse allegedly assaulted a patient, as well as several violation notices issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Health (DOH), Gracedale was downgraded to a one-star rating on Medicare.gov and given a six-month provisional license by the state. 

The one-star rating will stick for at least a year. A provisional license may be renewed no more than three times.

“These are not good outcomes, and we do not intend to gloss over that reality, but we have made substantial progress in rectifying those particular issues, situations, and in laying a strong foundation for a better future,” Sue Wandalowski, Northampton County’s director of human services told county council during its regular meeting Thursday night.

County council had asked for an update on “concerns” about Gracedale. Both Wandalowski and Zrinski spoke before the body at length about what’s being done to cultivate a new culture at the nursing home.

Officials from the DOH visited the facility 21 times over the past 10 months, Wandalowski said. Eight of those visits resulted in citations for various deficiencies. About half pertained to staffing shortages; others were for resident health and safety concerns, including the July incident, as well as “elopements,” when patients leave the building who are not authorized to do so.

“We have submitted a plan of correction to the Department of Health for each of the deficiencies that I mentioned,” Wandalowski said. “All such plans of correction have been accepted and fully implemented, except the one related to staffing.” She added that she expected the staffing shortage would be resolved later this month.

The administration also has added more oversight of operations and more intensive training for employees. 

Longer term, Zrinski told council she’s exploring the idea of adding a cabinet level position separate from the county’s department of human services that would be devoted solely to overseeing Gracedale, “specifically so that it can receive the high-level attention it deserves.”

Zrinski also wants to transition the Gracedale Advisory Board into more of a taskforce. Members, she said, would be asked to look at ways to increase the impact of Gracedale’s nonprofit arm, Friends of Gracedale, as well as pursue grants and sponsorships.

Also on the subject of finances, Zrinski told council that the county will most likely have to support the nursing home out of the general fund for the near future, with a goal of eventual self-sufficiency down the road. “The financial hole that has been left to us is huge, and it’s too big to climb out of quickly,” she said.

Zrinski also urged council to pass resolutions calling on state and federal officials to increase Medicare and medical assistance reimbursements to county-run nursing homes, and to ask for money for capital improvements at the facility.

There is a slew of other ideas being bandied about as well: adding new medical services- like dialysis- on site, looking at food purchasing and inventory levels to weed out over-spending, and re-evaluating marketing and social media strategies to change the perception of Gracedale.

“There are so many positive aspects of Gracedale that get overshadowed by the negativity and at times false narratives,” Wandalowski said. “We are changing the culture at Gracedale.”

Zrinski echoed that comment and told council her own mother was a patient at Gracedale a couple of years ago and received excellent care while she was there.

“This new administration, we’re kind of in catch up mode, and we are absolutely committed to getting this done right,” she said. “Our neighbors need a place to go where they will be cared for with respect and dignity, the same (as) my mom.”