Jennifer Stewart was Gracedale's Administrator between for nearly six years between 2019 and 2024, She had been employed at the nursing home in various capacities since 2005. In late 2024, former NorCo Exec Lamont McClure removed her from her position as Administrator to Admissions Coordinator. He told County Council that he did this "because there hasn't been a county contribution [to the nursing home] from the general fund for many years. ... One of the things that we think is necessary in order to continue to be viable as a county-owned and operated institution is to continue not to have county contributions coming from the general fund..... Jennifer Stewart is an expert at getting the census up."
What he failed to tell County Council at that time was that there was a simmering crisis in which monies that had been set aside for retention bonuses were spent instead on other Gracedale expenditures. What he also failed to tell Council was that Gracedale actually did get a county contribution of $9.9 million in 2024, a point highlighted by the annual independent audit.
It appears that Jennifer Stewart, an unusual and special kind of person who actually cares about the residents, was scapegoated and sent to Admissions.
She only remained at Gracedale a year, and currently is Administrator at Bethlehem North Nursing and Rehab Center, a four-star facility.
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