Tender Care

What Tender Care does

Tender Care, operating under the legal name Tender Care PPEC and the dba "TCMS" / "Tender Care Medical Services," is a for-profit pediatric extended care provider founded in 1988 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The company operates Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care (PPEC) centers, which are licensed medical daycares that deliver skilled nursing care to medically complex and fragile children from birth through age 21. Service offerings combine day-long skilled nursing (RNs, LPNs, CNAs), four integrated therapy modalities (physical, occupational, speech, respiratory), free accessible medical transportation with nursing accompaniment, nutritional support via Florida's Child Care Food Program (including G/J-tube feeding assistance), and a dedicated education program. The company operates eight PPEC centers: seven in Florida (Fort Lauderdale, Lake Park/West Palm Beach, Spring Hill, Dunnellon, St. Augustine, Palatka, Gainesville) and one in Houston, Texas, serving as the first independently owned PPEC in Florida.

The business model is reimbursement-driven: PPEC services are prescribed by a physician, require medical eligibility determination, and are billed primarily to Medicaid and qualifying insurance plans. Customer acquisition is sales-led, anchored by physician referrals, case manager relationships, hospital and community health fair participation, and an active content and social media presence including Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, LinkedIn, YouTube (100,000+ subscribers), and the "Building Our Village" podcast. Distribution is direct-to-family with enrollment handled via a centralized 800 number and a website enrollment form, supported by an Insync parent portal for ongoing family communication. Revenue mechanics are essentially fixed per diem Medicaid rates per child-day of attendance, modulated by census, therapy intensity, and transportation utilization across each site.

Operationally, Tender Care is a privately held, family-centered provider with no disclosed institutional ownership, funding rounds, or M&A activity. It has been recognized with multiple consecutive regional awards, including Best of Florida in skilled nursing, pediatric practices, children's therapy practices, and specialty healthcare (2022-2025), as well as Best of the 352 for skilled nursing (2025-2026). The company has grown from a single Florida center in 1988 to an eight-site multi-state operation through gradual de novo expansion, with the most recent additions being Lake Park (2023), Gainesville (2024-2025), and the first out-of-state site in Houston, Texas (2025).

Name

Tender Care

Legal name

Tender Care PPEC

Website

https://tcms.care

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Tender Care PPEC is a privately held pediatric extended care provider operating eight licensed medical daycare centers in Florida and Texas, delivering skilled nursing, four therapy modalities, transportation, and nutritional support to medically complex children from birth to age 21, reimbursed primarily through Medicaid.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care (PPEC)

NAICS

Home Health Care Services (62161)

SIC

Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Pediatric Skilled Home Health (Home Nursing & Therapy) (HLADAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Pediatric Home Health & Pediatric Private Duty Nursing (HLAFAEAJ)

Keywords

• Pediatric extended care
• Skilled nursing services
• Pediatric therapy services
• Medical daycare services
• Complex medical needs

Headquarters

HQ city

Fort Lauderdale

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. PPEC Services Revenue: Tender Care PPEC generates revenue through Medicaid-reimbursable pediatric extended care services for children with complex medical needs. Services are covered by Medicaid and other qualifying insurance plans when prescribed by a physician and approved through medical eligibility requirements. The organization provides skilled nursing care, therapies, transportation, and meals as part of the PPEC program.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Tender Care PPEC operates licensed pediatric medical daycare centers (Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care) that deliver daytime skilled nursing care to medically complex and fragile children from birth to age 21, complemented by physical, occupational, speech, and respiratory therapy, free wheelchair-accessible medical transportation, nutritious meals under Florida's Child Care Food Program, and a teacher-led education program. Children attend during the day and return home each evening under individualized physician-directed care plans.

Product overview

Tender Care PPEC operates as a unified pediatric extended care platform offering a coordinated suite of services for medically complex children from birth to age 21. The core offering is PPEC (Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care) - a licensed medical daycare providing skilled nursing care in a nurturing, daycare-like environment. This core service is complemented by four integrated therapy modalities: Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, and Respiratory Therapy. Supporting services include free medical transportation, the Child Care Food Program (CCFP) for nutritional support, and an Education Program with dedicated teachers. Communication is facilitated through the Insync Parent Portal, while community support is provided via the Building Our Village Podcast. The company operates 8 locations across Florida and Texas, with new centers opened in 2023 (Lake Park/West Palm Beach, Gainesville) and 2025 (Houston TX).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care (PPEC) Licensed pediatric medical daycare providing daytime skilled nursing care by RNs, LPNs, and CNAs for medically fragile, medically complex, and technologically dependent children from birth to age 21, delivered in coordination with prescribing physicians under individualized care plans.
• Pediatric Therapy Services

Quantifiable outcome

• 40-50% cost savings compared to home health services
• +2 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Soundwave Music TherapycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTender Care and Soundwave Music Therapy have partnered to provide music therapy services at the St. Augustine location, enhancing the therapeutic offerings available to children at the center.
• Florida's Child Care Food Program (CCFP)coreOthersTender Care participates in Florida's Child Care Food Program to ensure children receive nutritious meal options while in their care, supporting the nutritional needs of medically fragile children including those with feeding tubes.
• Champ1 Research FoundationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFeatured guest on Tender Care's Building Our Village podcast, discussing Medicaid impact on families and research initiatives for children with special needs.
• Crayons to CreditsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPodcast guest sharing information about homeschool support, neurodiversity, and IEP navigation for families with special needs children.
• Bella's AngelsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPodcast guest promoting the Access for All Abilities Showcase and disability advocacy resources for families.
• Family Network on DisabilitiesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPodcast guest discussing disability support services and resources available to Florida families.
• Life Planning 4 Special NeedsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPodcast guest discussing life insurance, trust preparation, and special needs planning for families.
• My Needs NetworkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPodcast guest sharing services and goals of the organization supporting families of children with special needs.
• Sensory SparksminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPodcast guest sharing sensory products and resources for the special needs and disability community.
• Adaptive SuperstarsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPodcast guest CEO discussing dance classes and programs celebrating people with disabilities.
• Coping with CreationsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPodcast guest discussing cup-making activities and parent support group resources.
• Pediatric Stars PPECCminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPodcast guest discussing PPECC care, differences between PPECCs and home health services.
• Elevate AdvocateminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPodcast guest discussing IEP processes, special education laws, and student advocacy.
• Atlantic Care ServicesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPodcast guest sharing services and future plans for home care support.
• ComForCareminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPodcast guest discussing home care services and support for families.
• Into The Looking GlassesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPodcast guest sharing services, story, and upcoming events for the special needs community.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Maxim Healthcare Services: Maxim Healthcare Services is a national provider of home healthcare, behavioral, and personal care services with a dedicated pediatric home health practice. They provide skilled nursing and therapy services for medically complex pediatric patients in similar Medicaid-reimbursable settings across multiple states.
• Encompass Health: Encompass Health operates a national network of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals and home health agencies, including pediatric therapy services. They provide skilled nursing and therapy services in non-hospital settings and serve medically complex patient populations with similar reimbursement models to Tender Care's PPEC services.
• Bayada Home Health Care: Bayada Home Health Care is one of the largest national providers of home health services with a significant pediatric practice serving medically complex children. Their pediatric home health and private duty nursing services overlap directly with Tender Care's skilled nursing offering for medically fragile children in Medicaid-reimbursable settings.
• Aveanna Healthcare: Aveanna Healthcare is a national home health and medical solutions provider with a significant pediatric home health and private duty nursing practice serving medically complex children. They compete in the same Medicaid-reimbursable pediatric skilled nursing market and serve a similar medically fragile pediatric population across multiple states.
• BrightSpring Health Services: BrightSpring Health Services is a national home and community-based health services platform serving complex populations, including pediatric patients. Their skilled nursing, therapy, and home health services overlap with Tender Care's offerings, and their multi-state footprint positions them to compete in pediatric skilled care categories.
• Enhabit: Enhabit is a national home health and hospice provider offering skilled nursing and therapy services for medically complex patients. Their pediatric skilled home health services overlap with Tender Care's core skilled nursing offering for Medicaid-eligible medically complex children across multiple states.

Direct peers

• Pediatric Stars PPECC: Pediatric Stars PPECC is a Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care center operating in Texas, serving medically complex children with skilled nursing and therapy services. They appeared as a guest on Tender Care's 'Building Our Village' podcast to discuss PPECC care and differences between PPECCs and home health services, highlighting their position as a direct PPEC peer operating in an adjacent market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/TenderCarePPEC
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCmRMFzaXF5-v1tDwwsyhaeg
• Facebookfacebook.com/tendercareppec
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tender-care-center-inc
• Instagraminstagram.com/teamtendercareppec
• TikToktiktok.com/@teamtendercare

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Tender Care