Guardian Care Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, the first hospital for blacks in Orlando, hosted more than 100 organizations, community stakeholders and residents at the First Annual History-Makers Heritage & Appreciation Event, in honor of Black History Month and to pay tribute to two of its outstanding founders.
Originally built in 1958 by Florida Hospital, up until 1964, the facility operated as an acute hospital for the delivery of medical services to blacks during the days of segregation in Orlando. In 1966, founders Dr. J. Mark Cox and Dr. Alfred Bookhardt opened the Guardian Care Nursing Home, now Guardian Care Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.
And so today, a community came together to honor the sterling contributions made by Bookhardt, who attended today’s ceremony, and Cox, posthumously.
The keynote speaker, Dr. Alzo J. Reddick, Chair of the Board of Directors Guardian Care Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, recalled what life was like for Blacks in Orlando during segregation, which pervaded all facets of life. He shared too, the evolution of Guardian Care, from its uncertain beginnings, to a Five-Star rated nursing and rehabilitation center in which all ethnic groups participate, and one which has received the highest rating in the State of Florida.
“If you were a black person in 1950 in Orlando, it didn’t matter how much money you had or whether you were the preacher’s son or daughter…if you were black, you were put in the basement,” Reddick said, of Blacks seeking health care services. “But, the lesson is not to criticize and talk about what happened yesterday. We are here to celebrate and honor the work of Dr. Bookhardt and Dr. Cox who put their homes on the line to keep Guardian Care Nursing Home afloat.”
“I am so proud of the job that our team does at Guardian Care – we have financial solvency and the most positive evaluation, with almost 100 percent occupancy; it just doesn’t get better than that,” he added.
Located at the corner of John Young Parkway and Church Street, Guardian Care is a 120 bed skilled nursing home which offers rehabilitation services. The facility proudly boasts a memory care unit that specializes in providing care and services to individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and other related forms of Dementia. Guardian Care recently announced that it was found to be deficient free during the Annual Survey by the Agency for Health Care Administration.
“It’s because of contributions from great physicians and surgeons like Dr. Cox and Dr. Bookhardt that we can be here today; they paved the way for Guardian Care,” said Eloise Abrahams, Administrator, Guardian Care. “We feel that we provide what’s most important – quality care and services to our residents and when you do, everything else falls into place.”
Today’s event also recognized the contributions of Dr. Reddick who has served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Guardian Care for more than 10 years.
“Dr. Reddick is like a ‘junk yard dog’ who has worked tirelessly to protect and develop Guardian Care into the facility it is today,” said Master of Ceremonies, Tom Flewellyn, Vice President of Operations, Synergy Healthcare Services Management. “He is also very protective of our veterans.”
The event was proudly in part sponsored by general sponsors: Guardian Sponsors, Florida Blue, MED Life Institute of Nursing, Moore Stephens Lovelace, P.A., Prime Electrical Services, Inc., Synergy Healthcare Services. General Sponsors: Alternative Home Health, Inc., Anderson & Associates, P.A., Millennium Pharmacy, PrevMed, Select Medical. Event Sponsors: A-1 Services Design LLC, BBIF Florida, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. – Orlando Alumnae Chapter, Dr. Steven and Karen Franzel, Global One Networks, Global Managing & Sales Group, Malcolm L. Daigle and Associates, McKesson Medical, Siwel Inc., TarHeel Roofing, Inc., Urban Trust Bank and W.H. Worrell Construction, Inc.
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