Bears & Stuff Came to Our Palatka and St. Augustine Centers!

Providing a Helping Hand for Special Needs Children and Families.

🌟 Exciting news from our St. Augustine and Palatka centers! 🎉  Bears & Stuff joined us for a day of creativity and fun, and the kids had an absolute blast making their own stuffed animals! 🧸💙 Seeing their smiles as they crafted their new furry friends was truly heartwarming. Thank you to everyone who participated! 🥳

More About Tender Care

Tender Care PPEC provides care for medically complex and fragile children from birth to 21 years of age in a daycare-like environment staffed with nurses, CNAs, and therapists. We are the first independently owned PPEC in the State of Florida with our initial center opening in 1988. This means we have an abundance of experience and knowledge in providing loving care to this special pediatric population. We have 6 Tender Care PPEC centers throughout Florida, with our newest facility located in Lake Park.

Lake Park Location

Our goal is to enhance the development of each child through collaborative relationships between families, physicians, nurses, and therapists. This holistic approach to care is carried out in an environment that allows the child to engage in social interactions with their peers. This results in thriving children, well-positioned to achieve their greatest potential. We also offer transportation at no cost and provide nutritious meals throughout the day. 

What sets us apart is that we care for and treat every child like family. We have passion in our hearts for our children and a desire to see them succeed.

You can follow us on Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

PPEC Offers Many Advantages…

To the child/family:

  • Centrally located nursing and therapy decreases intrusions into family dynamics at home
  • Increased socialization with other children
  • Decreased hospitalization
  • Personalized case management ensuring the best care for your child
  • Offers caregivers increased potential to return to work or school
  • Early detection of potential health problems by licensed professionals

To the payer:

  • Decreased hospitalizations through early detection and case management
  • Increased compliance with plan of care resulting in less utilization of health care benefits
  • An average savings of 40% to 50% compared to Home Health services

Common pediatric diagnoses that indicate a potential need for daily skilled nursing services:

  • Premature infants diagnosed with bronchopulmonary dysplasia, apnea of prematurity, oxygen and pulse oximetry dependence
  • Cerebral palsy with gastrostomy or jejunostomy dependence and/or seizures
  • Spina bifida with or without an Arnold Chiari malformation and shunt monitoring, and urinary catheterization dependence
  • Certain cardiac anomalies
  • Post-transplant status
  • Immunosuppressed status
  • Tracheostomy status (with or without ventilator dependence)
  • Failure to thrive
  • Chronic Kidney Disease
  • History of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy
  • Adrenal Insufficiency
  • Presence of a colostomy, ileostomy, urostomy, or vesicostomy

*This is not medical advice, always consult with your child’s doctor before making any changes to their lifestyle. 

Related:

Building Our Village: Pediatric Stars PPECC

In this episode, Erica from Pediatric Stars PPECC, shares her story, discusses the importance of PPECC care, and explains the difference between PPECCs and Home Health.

Hurricane Grill & Wings Donated to Tender Care PPEC (2024)!

A great big, heartfelt THANK YOU to Hurricane Grill & Wings in St. Augustine! Thanks to the incredible generosity of their regular patrons and the owner’s matching contribution, we’re one step closer to making our patients’ special Christmas wishes come true.

Spring Hill Support

When your child gets diagnosed with an injury, disability, or illness, it can feel as if your world is falling apart. We want you to know that you are not alone. There are a plethora of Spring Hill support organizations and resources to help you, your family, and your child.

Tender Care PPEC is having its Special Needs Resources Open House, Jan. 10th at 5:30pm!

📢 Tender Care is proud to announce that we are hosting a Special Needs Resources Open House event at our West Palm Beach location! This is Tender Care’s FIRST EVER Resource event at this location on Wednesday, January 10th from 5:30pm-7:30pm. 📆

Tender Care Donates to HorsePlay Therapy from Special Needs Resources Expo Proceeds

On April 1st, Tender Care had a successful Special Needs Resources Expo at our St. Augustine center! During the Expo, we were able to raise over $600 which we donated to HorsePlay Therapy. A not-for-profit organization for kids with special needs and veterans with PTSD and other life-altering injuries.

Tender Care Welcomes St. Augustine/Palatka Regional Marketing Specialist!

We are thrilled to announce a new addition to the Tender Care PPEC family! Please join us in welcoming Andrea, our new Regional Marketing Specialist for our St. Augustine and Palatka centers. 🎉

3 Reasons Socialization is Essential for Children with Special Medical Needs

Are you curious about how socialization is essential for children with special medical needs? We explain three benefits of the impact socialization has on these children.

A Special Visit from Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue 🚒 [2026]

We had an incredibly exciting day at our center thanks to a special visit from Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue!

Supporting Children with Special Medical Needs Through Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy

Children with special medical needs often face unique challenges in their daily lives. Whether it’s due to congenital conditions, developmental delays, or injuries, the support of physical, occupational, and speech therapy can make a profound difference in helping them thrive. These therapies aim to improve mobility, enhance communication, and foster independence—key aspects in a child’s growth and development.

Ep. 1 – Building Our Village – Tender Care Starts a Podcast

The Tender Care PPEC podcast, titled “Building Our Village,” is a compelling new series designed to support families of special needs care. This innovative podcast aims to create a supportive community by bringing together key resources and individuals dedicated to making a significant difference in the lives of children with special needs and their families.