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Nazareth, Pa., United States

Friday, March 07, 2014

Gracedale in Hot Water ... Literally

Millard "Dee" Freeman is Gracedale's Administrator
In the midst of an annual state safety inspection last week, Gracedale nursing home administrator Millard "Dee" Herman discovered he was in hot water ... literally. For reasons that were initially unclear, the hot water in resident sinks was scalding hot. State officials placed the home in immediate jeopardy status, but in 2 1/2 hours, the problem was under control, though the solution is still a few days away.

Why would hot water worry administrators? "Hot water can be a serious issue when you have dementia patients," explained Herman, who noted some residents could scald themselves without even realizing it.

A boiler reaching temperatures of up to 190 degrees was initially thought to be the culprit. But the real source was eventually identified to be defective pneumatic steam valves that are over 50 years old. Replacements must be specially manufactured and will be unavailable until next week.

Over 400 residents located in the Tower are unaffected, noted Herman, who thanked Northampton County Executive John Brown and Public Works Director Steve DeSalva for their efforts in identifying the problem. They both spent a good portion of the weekend at the Nazareth facility. Brown said he's no engineer, but his goal at Gracedale is "zero tolerance" for maintenance issues.

"Gracedale's a good name for us," said Freeman. "We seem to get by with grace every night."

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

What is with Desalvo. Why is he even still working fort teh county?

Anonymous said...

He is working because he is a Notre Dame graduate, and alumni stick together.

Anonymous said...

And the problems and the cost just keep on coming...we are spending money and time someone else could have been spending. It could have been beneficial to our other county residents, but no the unions saw to that.

They took care of the union first and foremost. The majority of county residents are not union so they can pound sand and go without. Wonder why unions are on the downward trend....

This is the reality for now.



Guess they all need to go into Gracedale or jail for a warm place, with 3 meals a day oh and great healthcare.

Anonymous said...

How did this get to be about unions.

Anonymous said...

The union, AFSCME (not COAF) was the muscle behind the referendum that kept this place public. It continues to lose 5+ million a year despite "concessions." Nursing homes are no longer a core function of county government. Counties will continue getting out of the nursing home business. Let's see what happens in Warren County this year.

Bernie O'Hare said...

I fought that battle and lost. And I signed my name to everything. It is easy to say Gracedale should be sold, but there are numerous county residents who feel we must keep it. I believe in democracy and abide by their will.

Anonymous said...

Then don`t complain about a deficit. One can look at Gracedale as the cause for the deficit. It`s a loser money wise ; a union welfare program paid for by taxpayers. If the sale had gone through there would be an extra 55 million in the fund balance.

Anonymous said...

2:16 And when Gracedale surpluses in the millions in past years were added to the general fund were you complaing then?

Anonymous said...

Surpluses always go where the need is unless set up in such a way that this can't happen. Look at SS. Fires are always first even the ones we create.

The people wanting to sell the money pit will be vindicated in the end. The economy can't continue to support this. Feed them or feed your own family....

Unions are at fault as Bernie stated. You should have to pay for this place instead of the rest of us. You would sell to the next bidder and care less then.

Anonymous said...

Is this about hot waterr or unions. Im confused.

Bernie O'Hare said...

Hot water. In fact, the wrong kind of valves were in place, a cheaper kind. So if anyone is to be blamed, it would be whoever was in charge 50 years ago.

Anonymous said...

Montgomery County just sold their nursing home for $41 mill. Wiped out their debt service on the home plus saving them $2 million a year in county subsidy. Stoffa was a prophet in trying to sell Gracedale. If there is a tax increase in the next couple of years, blame the Gracedale Goons and the nut jobs who refer to their sorry asses as "We the People." Thanks for screwing the taxpayers of the county Fake Rev and your band of self serving morons.-