Buckles the Pony Came to Our Dunnellon Center!

Providing a Helping Hand for Special Needs Children and Families.

Buckles the pony came to visit our Dunnellon Tender Care center! The kids had a blast learning about Buckles and petting him. 

Buckles the pony trotted into our Dunnellon center for a special visit! He came spreading joy and sparking imagination. The kids met their new friend with eyes full of wonder. They are excited to see Buckles again and they love spending time with him.

Buckles is owned by one of the nurse’s daughters at our Dunnellon center. The kids knew about the pony and asked the daughter if he could visit the center.

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:

Tender Care Attended Spring into Resources with TLC!

We had so much fun attending Spring into Resources Open House on March 9th! This event was hosted by The Therapeutic Learning Center at the Arc of the St. Johns, located in St. Augustine, FL. We had a lot of families stop by our table to learn about Tender Care PPEC and what we do in the community!

36 Years of Care at Tender Care PPEC

🎉📅 What an incredible journey it’s been of 36 years of care! Today, we’re taking a moment to celebrate a milestone that’s close to our hearts. 🥳 Tender Care PPEC has been nurturing and providing exceptional care since 1988 – that’s 13,169 days of unconditional support, growth, and memories! 🌱💞

Tender Care’s Special Needs Resources Expo 2024 was a Success!

On April 13th, Tender Care had a successful Special Needs Resources Expo 2024 at Mall 2121! We had over 30 vendors, $1000 worth of raffle prizes, and a multitude of attendees at the Expo. We also had a special performance from Adaptive Superstars!

Going the Extra Mile, Literally: How Tender Care PPEC Travels Up to an Hour to Serve Local Families in Spring Hill Florida

Going the Extra Mile, Literally: How Tender Care PPEC Travels Up to an Hour to Serve Local Families in Spring Hill Florida

Critters on Call brought their adorable bunnies to visit Our St. Augustine and Palatka Centers, and it was a hopping good time! [2025]

Critters on Call brought their adorable bunnies to visit us today, and it was a hopping good time! The energy was high, the cuddles were plenty, and the smiles were contagious.

Building Our Village: Life Planning 4 Special Needs

In this episode, Brian Stephens from Life Planning 4 Special Needs, discusses the importance of life insurance, preparing a trust, and introduces his new book!

5 Incredible Benefits of a PPEC

If you are a parent of a special needs child, you know that finding the right care for them is essential. You want to be sure they are getting the best care possible so they can thrive and grow. That’s why so many parents turn to Tender Care PPEC. Our program offers the best care available for children with special needs. We provide personalized care and support so your child can get the most out of their life. In this blog, we list 5 benefits of PPECs.

Tender Care PPEC Voted Best of the 352 for Best Skilled Nursing!

Tender Care PPEC is thrilled to be voted Best of the 352 for Best Skilled Nursing!

Tender Care Attended Evening with Santa 2023!

We had so much fun attending Evening with Santa 2023 on December 5th! This event was hosted by UF Health Neurodevelopmental Pediatric Center, located in Jacksonville, FL. We had a lot of families stop by our table to learn about Tender Care PPEC and what we do in the community!

Building Our Village: Brittany Cunningham

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. In this episode, Brittany Cunningham, shares her tips for traveling with a special needs child.