Oct. 28, 2026
— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs
Michelle Morton, the administrator of the Northampton County-owned Gracedale nursing home, has resigned.
Morton’s departure next month was first reported by Lehigh Valley Ramblings.
Here is a link to Northampton County Executive Tara Zrinski’s statement on Morton leaving and on the interim appointment of Deputy Administrator Christina Casey as acting administrator until a permanent replacement is found.
Gracedale has capacity for 688 residents, but it has about 450. The home in Upper Nazareth Township has been plagued by staffing problems and as noted by Lehigh Valley Ramblings, negative reports from state regulators.
During a recent presentation to County Council, Morton said the home’s population has been moving toward people with mental problems, not just the aged and infirm. That presents additional challenges to the staff, and working at a nursing home is already difficult.
Here’s Zrinski’s statement in cut-and-paste form:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 26, 2026
[Northampton County, PA]— Northampton County announces that Michelle Morton has submitted her resignation as Nursing Home Administrator of Gracedale Nursing Home, effective November 12, 2026.
“We appreciate Ms. Morton staying on during such a tumultuous time in Gracedale’s history and the knowledge and patience she brought to the role,” said Northampton County Executive Tara Zrinski. “As we transition to the Continuum of Care, her departure provides a fresh start and an opportunity to reevaluate leadership at Gracedale and build the team that will carry this mission forward. Our focus remains on our residents, supporting our employees, and building a stable, sustainable future for the people who depend on us.”
The County thanks Morton for her service to Gracedale and recognizes this leadership transition as an opportunity to strengthen the facility and move forward with a renewed sense of direction and accountability.
“Our priority throughout this transition is to maintain continuity of care for our residents while providing our employees with the leadership and resources they need to succeed,” said Tom Carson, Director of Continuum of Care. “We have an opportunity to build on Gracedale’s foundation, address ongoing challenges, and establish a sustainable path forward that meets the evolving needs of our residents and the community.”
The Deputy Nursing Home Administrator, Christina Casey, BSN, RN, NHA, CNDLTC, will serve as Acting Administrator following Morton’s departure, ensuring continuity of leadership and operations while the County conducts a search for a qualified candidate to permanently fill the position.
