Family Resource Guide for Medical Crises in Palm Beach County

When someone you love is in trouble, everything becomes urgent.

Most families never expect the phone call.

A fall.
A hospitalization.
A sudden change in health.
A confusing discharge plan.
A parent who is no longer safe at home.

Families often know something is wrong before they know what to do next.

First, if your loved one is in immediate danger, call 911.

Once they are safe, stabilized, and receiving care, the next call should be to Nightingale Patient Advocates.

Nightingale Patient Advocates helps families in Palm Beach County and Palm Beach Island find clarity during medical stress. Led by Carolyn Wheeler, RN, a clinical nurse advocate with 34+ years of emergency, trauma, and bedside nursing experience, Nightingale provides calm guidance when families feel overwhelmed, unheard, or unsure.

This resource page was created for families who need direction now.

Start With Safety

If your loved one is having a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.

This includes chest pain, trouble breathing, stroke symptoms, serious injury, severe confusion, a fall with injury, uncontrolled bleeding, or any situation that feels unsafe.

After emergency help is in place, families often need a second layer of support.

That is where advocacy matters.

Carolyn helps families understand what is happening, what questions need to be asked, and what steps may come next.

When to Call Nightingale Patient Advocates

Call Nightingale Patient Advocates when your loved one is safe but the situation still feels unclear.

Families often call when:

• A loved one is hospitalized.
• A discharge plan feels rushed.
• An aging parent is not safe at home.
• Doctors are giving information that feels confusing.
• Family members live out of state.
• Medication changes are unclear.
• Rehab, home care, or skilled nursing options are being discussed.

The patient is overwhelmed, confused, or unable to speak clearly for themselves.

Nightingale Patient Advocates does not replace doctors, nurses, hospitals, or emergency services.

Instead, Carolyn helps families understand the system, organize information, and advocate with confidence.
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Local Hospitals Families Often Navigate

Families in Palm Beach County may find themselves working with hospitals such as:

• Jupiter Medical Center
• Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center
• St. Mary’s Medical Center
• Good Samaritan Medical Center
• JFK North Hospital
• JFK Medical Center
• HCA Florida West Palm Beach Hospital

Each hospital has its own process.

However, families usually have the same concern.

They want to know their loved one is being seen, heard, protected, and properly guided.

Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Safety Concerns

If you suspect elder abuse, neglect, exploitation, or self-neglect, take it seriously.

In Florida, suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation, or self-neglect of a vulnerable adult should be reported.

Florida Abuse Hotline:

• 1-800-96-ABUSE
• 1-800-962-2873

TTY:

• 711 or 1-800-955-8771

If the person is in immediate danger, call 911 first.

Signs of concern may include sudden injuries, fearfulness, poor hygiene, missing money, unsafe living conditions, medication mismanagement, isolation, or unexplained changes in behavior.

Families do not need to have every answer before asking for help.

They only need to act when something feels wrong.

Elder and Caregiver Support

Palm Beach County families can also contact local elder support services.

Area Agency on Aging Palm Beach/Treasure Coast Helpline:

• 1-866-684-5885

Statewide Elder Helpline:

• 1-800-96-ELDER
• 1-800-963-5337

Palm Beach County Senior Services:

• 561-355-4746

These resources may help with elder services, caregiver support, meals, transportation, in-home support, and local program referrals.

Nightingale Patient Advocates can help families understand which questions to ask before making calls or decisions.

Transportation and Medical Ride Support

Transportation becomes a major concern when an older adult can no longer drive safely or needs help getting to appointments.

Palm Tran:
561-841-4200

Palm Tran Connection:
561-649-9838

Palm Tran Connection is a shared, door-to-door paratransit service for eligible residents with disabilities and qualifying transportation needs.

Families may also explore private medical transportation, wheelchair transportation, and non-emergency medical transport when a loved one is stable but still needs safe movement between care settings.

Before arranging transportation, families should ask:

• Is the person medically stable?
• Can they sit upright?
• Do they need a wheelchair?
• Do they need oxygen?
• Do they need assistance transferring?
• Is a nurse, aide, or medical escort needed?

These details matter.

A ride is not just a ride when someone is medically fragile.

Mental Health and Crisis Support

Medical stress can create emotional crisis for patients and families.

If someone is in danger of harming themselves or others, call 911.

For mental health crisis support, call or text:
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline:
988
211 Palm Beach and Treasure Coast:
Dial 2-1-1
211 can help connect families with crisis counseling, local referrals, community support, and emergency resources.

Veterans and Caregiver Resources

Families caring for veterans may also contact:

• VA West Palm Beach Health Care:
  Caregiver Support Program

Veteran caregivers may be able to access support, benefits guidance, respite care information, and local programs through the VA system.

If your loved one is a veteran and is hospitalized or declining at home, ask about available caregiver support before making long-term decisions alone.

Why Advocacy Matters

Hospitals work hard.

Doctors, nurses, case managers, and discharge planners carry heavy responsibilities every day.

But the hospital system is built around protocols, timelines, criteria, and many patients at once.

Your family is focused on one person.

That difference matters.

A clinical nurse advocate helps families slow down, ask better questions, and understand the plan before decisions are made.

Carolyn helps families look at the whole picture:

• What happened?
• What is the diagnosis?
• What has changed?
• What medications were added or stopped?
• Is discharge safe?
• What support is needed at home?
• Is rehab appropriate?
• Who is coordinating follow-up care?
• What could be missed?

These questions can change everything.

The Nightingale Difference

Families choose Nightingale Patient Advocates because they want more than a list of phone numbers.

They want a caring voice on the other end of the phone.

They want someone who understands hospitals.

They want someone who can speak the language of healthcare and still explain it in plain English.

Most of all, they want to feel less alone.

Carolyn Wheeler, RN, brings 34+ years of clinical experience, calm judgment, and personal commitment to every family she serves.

Families often describe her as steady, clear, compassionate, and deeply protective.

That is the heart of Nightingale Patient Advocates.

Call Today

If your loved one is safe, stabilized, and the next step feels uncertain, call Nightingale Patient Advocates today.

Nightingale Patient Advocates
Palm Beach County and Palm Beach Island

Call:
215-680-1523

When your family needs clarity, guidance, and protection, Nightingale Patient Advocates is here to help.