Never in its existence was GHCC evacuated but history was in the making.
Thursday October 20, 2005 was a busy day at Glades Health Care Center in Pahokee, FL. After much discussion and prayer and in an effort to assure the safety of the 100 + residents, the decision to voluntarily evacuate GHCC was implemented by Administrator Francine Hennessy. “These people are our responsibility but even more than that we are all family here and we want to make sure our family is safe.”
CNA Trudy Jackson (center) escorts couple Mary and John through the hallways upon their return home
There is no easy task in evacuating medically unstable residents from their home. A bus was chartered to take 50 % of the Residents to their sister facility in Gainesville. The City of Pahokee and AMR assisted in transferring the residents to Hamlin Terrace, Edward J. Healy Home in Mangonia Park, and various other facilities in the South Florida area that were far from their beloved Lake Okeechobee. To say goodbye and fear of what was to be, these brave Residents of the Glades accompanied by many dedicated GHCC Staff members were transferred to safe havens to ride out Wilma.
Wilma came with her fury. Her magnitude surprised many but the Residents from GHCC were safe. The old Hospital in Pahokee was severely damaged, homes devastated and destroyed. GHCC withstood the winds with some damage but the buildings heart was strong. Over a week passed and The Residents from GHCC were calling daily. Leonard Banks stated “Listen, I am in a safe place it’s nice here but I want to come home. When can I come home?”
CNA Phellina’s (left) love for her Resident -Annie is obvious in the welcome home hug
And home they came. With the assistance of Palm Tran, AMR and yet another chartered bus, the halls of GHCC were filled again. Tears of joys, hugs, songs of praise, laughter, smiles filled the building and filled the heart as one by one the Residents re-entered their home. “I saw the Hospital and thought how is my house?” Gertrude Brocket stated. After seeing GHCC for the first time in over week, Brocket proclaimed “Thank God! The love that lives here saved this building, it saved our Home!”
Glades Health Care President of the Resident Council said it best upon return as he hugged staff members and peers with tears in his eyes he simply stated “There is no place like Home.”
