EASTON, Pa. – Northampton County Council approved appointments and personnel requests involving various government positions Thursday night at the administration building.
The positions which garnered the most attention involved Gracedale Nursing Home. Commissioners approved the creation of two positions at Gracedale — director of continuum of care and deputy director of continuum of care — along with their job duties.
A separate resolution established the salary for the director of continuum of care position at $109,632 annually. When benefits are factored, the total compensation is $148,249. The deputy director will receive an $83,172 annual salary with a benefits package totaling $119,741.
The nursing home has faced recent challenges. The facility, located in Upper Nazareth Township, is one of a dwindling number of county-owned and operated homes in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Among the challenges have been staffing shortages and finances.
In May, County Council signed off on Executive Tara Zrinski’s request to create a new government department dedicated solely to oversight of the nursing home. The “Continuum of Care at Gracedale” removed oversight of Gracedale from the county’s Human Services Department.
Thursday, Zrinski offered a personal and passionate speech about Gracedale’s mission prior to the vote. She recounted experiences her mother endured as her health deteriorated. Zrinski compared the experience her mother received at a for-profit facility to that of Gracedale. There was no comparison, Zrinski said, as her mother received better care at Gracedale.
She said the county’s commitment to Gracedale was a crucial and basic function of county government’s responsibilities to the public.
“Gracedale is a core mission because it is the modern county answer to an old county duty,” Zrinski said. “Caring for residents who need protection, dignity and skilled support.”
She acknowledged the home is facing issues, but said there is improvement.
“At Gracedale, there is actual progress within what seems like a series of setbacks,” Zrinkski said. “Not to minimize the significance of those setbacks, but these important issues require transparency, accountability and ongoing action to mitigate.”
The county executive then asked commissioners to get behind the new positions and the facility itself.
“Gracedale’s value extends beyond the residents inside the facility,” Zrinski said. “A strong county home stabilizes the care system, reduces avoidable hospital use, supports family caregivers and preserves county oversight of quality and accountability.”