Residents of Century Village in Pembroke Pines are up in arms over the extensive delays at their community's gatehouse, causing uproar amongst locals and healthcare workers alike, as chronicled by Local 10 and NBC6. According to residents, the wait times have rapidly escalated without warning, resulting in a gridlock that stretches nearly to Pines Boulevard, this sudden enforcement of an identification rule by the entrance security has been cited as the culprit, as the new protocol has vendors and visitors caught in a bind having to prove their purpose of entry into the bustling elderly enclave.
"Not getting any answers, nobody's taking responsibility," Rae East, a resident whose father lives in the retirement community, told Local 10. Nurses and home healthcare aides are particularly affected by these security measures, with reports of delays causing repercussions for the health and well-being of the Village's elderly population, a certified nursing assistant Aldith Ward expressed her dismay, narrating how she found her patient "soaking wet and her mouth open like she was desperate to get something to eat" due to the wait.
The situation has grown so dire that some visitors find themselves at the community's mercy, pondering the fate of their elderly relatives trapped behind the bottleneck. Sean Marks highlighted the severity of the delays, stating, "It's nonstop all day, it's taking healthcare workers over two hours to see their patient,” further adding his emotional response in an interview with NBC6, "This brings tears to my eyes. People are going to start and die in here and it's just not right, we need answers."
While Century Village admits to the security change aimed at barring access to former residents, the repercussions of such protocol adjustments have sent ripples through the Century Village populace, the staff responsible for the well-being of its residents and the necessity for a swift resolution has never been so paramount. Denis Kersaint of the Century Village real estate office acknowledged the issue and attributed the long lines to the sheer magnitude of the community and the daily influx of vendors requiring entry, according to NBC6. Despite multiple calls and messages left by NBC6, Century Village officials have yet to comment on the gridlock or proposed solutions to alleviate the community's distress.
