When a loved one is sick, injured, hospitalized, or struggling at home, families need clear information fast.
This guide brings together important Palm Beach County healthcare, elder-care, crisis, and caregiver resources. It is designed to help you find a starting point when life feels uncertain.
Nightingale Patient Advocates provides independent support for patients and families across Palm Beach County. Carolyn Wheeler, RN, brings 34 years of nursing experience to hospital advocacy, discharge planning, family communication, and recovery support.
For a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.
If someone is unconscious, having trouble breathing, showing signs of stroke, having chest pain, having a seizure, or may hurt themselves or another person, do not wait.
How Nightingale Patient Advocates Helps
Nightingale Patient Advocates is an independent clinical nurse advocacy service. We do not replace a doctor, hospital, emergency department, or treatment team.
Instead, we help families understand the road ahead.
Carolyn can help families:
- Prepare questions for doctors and specialists
- Understand discharge instructions
- Organize medications and follow-up care
- Communicate with hospital staff, with patient permission
- Review rehabilitation, skilled nursing, and home-care options
- Support adult children who live out of state
- Create a practical plan for a safer recovery at home
- Keep important medical information in one organized place
Major Hospitals in Palm Beach County
For privacy and security, most hospitals do not publish a general public email address. Use the main number below or the hospital’s official online contact or patient-relations form.
Northern Palm Beach County
Jupiter Medical Center
1210 Old Dixie Highway, Jupiter, FL 33458
Main line: 561-263-2234
Services include emergency care, heart and vascular care, cancer care, orthopedics, surgery, and maternity care.
Website: jupitermed.com
Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center
3360 Burns Road, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
Main line: 561-622-1411
A full-service hospital with emergency, surgical, cardiac, orthopedic, and rehabilitation services.
Website: Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center
HCA Florida JFK North Hospital
2201 45th Street, West Palm Beach, FL 33407
Main line: 561-842-6141
Provides emergency, stroke, orthopedic, behavioral-health, and rehabilitation services.
Website: HCA Florida JFK North Hospital
Central Palm Beach County
Good Samaritan Medical Center
1309 North Flagler Drive, West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Main line: 561-655-5511
A full-service hospital in downtown West Palm Beach.
Website: Good Samaritan Medical Center
St. Mary’s Medical Center
901 45th Street, West Palm Beach, FL 33407
Main line: 561-844-6300
St. Mary’s provides adult and pediatric emergency care, trauma care, stroke care, and women’s services.
Website: St. Mary’s Medical Center
HCA Florida JFK Hospital
5301 South Congress Avenue, Atlantis, FL 33462
Main line: 561-965-7300
A full-service hospital serving central and southern Palm Beach County.
Website: HCA Florida JFK Hospital
Wellington Regional Medical Center
10101 Forest Hill Boulevard, Wellington, FL 33414
Main line: 561-798-8500
Provides emergency care, surgical services, maternity care, and specialty treatment.
Website: Wellington Regional Medical Center
HCA Florida Palms West Hospital
13001 Southern Boulevard, Loxahatchee, FL 33470
Main line: 561-798-3300
A key hospital for western Palm Beach County families.
Website: HCA Florida Palms West Hospital
Lakeside Medical Center
39200 Hooker Highway, Belle Glade, FL 33430
Main line: 561-996-6571
A public hospital serving the Glades communities.
Website: Lakeside Medical Center
Southern Palm Beach County
Bethesda Hospital East
2815 South Seacrest Boulevard, Boynton Beach, FL 33435
Main line: 561-737-7733
A full-service Baptist Health hospital with emergency and inpatient services.
Website: Bethesda Hospital East
Bethesda Hospital West
9655 Boynton Beach Boulevard, Boynton Beach, FL 33472
Main line: 561-336-7000
A Baptist Health hospital serving western Boynton Beach and nearby communities.
Website: Bethesda Hospital West
Delray Medical Center
5352 Linton Boulevard, Delray Beach, FL 33484
Main line: 561-498-4440
Provides emergency, cardiac, stroke, surgical, and behavioral-health services.
Website: Delray Medical Center
Boca Raton Regional Hospital
800 Meadows Road, Boca Raton, FL 33486
Main line: 561-955-7100
A Baptist Health hospital with advanced specialty care, including the Marcus Neuroscience Institute.
Website: Boca Raton Regional Hospital
West Boca Medical Center
21644 State Road 7, Boca Raton, FL 33428
Main line: 561-488-8000
A full-service hospital serving western Boca Raton.
Website: West Boca Medical Center
Help for Older Adults and Family Caregivers
Area Agency on Aging / Aging and Disability Resource Center
The Area Agency on Aging helps older adults, adults with disabilities, and caregivers connect with local support. Ask about meals, transportation, in-home help, Medicaid long-term care, caregiver support, Medicare questions, and local service referrals.
Elder Helpline: 1-866-684-5885
Website: yourADRC.org
Palm Beach County Senior and Veteran Services
Palm Beach County offers senior centers, case-management services, caregiver resources, and programs for older residents.
810 Datura Street, West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Phone: 561-355-4746
Website: Palm Beach County Senior Services
211 Palm Beach and Treasure Coast
Dialing 211 connects families with free, confidential support and local referrals. It can help with food, housing, caregiver support, mental-health services, transportation, financial hardship, and crisis guidance.
211 also offers Elder Crisis Outreach for Palm Beach County residents age 60 and older.
Call or text: 211
Website: 211 Palm Beach and Treasure Coast
Finding a Safe Assisted Living, Skilled Nursing, or Home-Health Provider
Choosing care for a loved one is a major decision. Families should compare licensing, inspection history, staffing, services, cost, location, and the facility’s ability to meet the patient’s medical needs.
Use Florida’s official Health Finder to research hospitals, assisted-living facilities, nursing homes, home-health agencies, and inspection information.
Website: Florida Health Finder
Nightingale Patient Advocates can help families understand the questions to ask before choosing the next level of care.
Elder Abuse, Neglect, and Financial Exploitation
Elder abuse is not always physical.
It can include neglect, emotional abuse, threats, isolation, improper use of money, misuse of a power of attorney, abandonment, or a caregiver failing to provide needed care.
If an older adult or vulnerable person is in immediate danger, call 911.
To report suspected abuse, neglect, exploitation, or self-neglect in Florida:
Florida Abuse Hotline: 1-800-962-2873
Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Website: Florida Adult Protective Services
You do not need proof to make a good-faith report. If something feels wrong, ask for help.
Mental-Health and Crisis Support
A medical crisis can also become an emotional crisis.
If someone is talking about suicide, self-harm, or harming another person, take it seriously. Do not leave the person alone if there is immediate danger.
Call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
Call 911 for immediate danger or a medical emergency.
Dial 211 for Palm Beach County crisis support and local referrals.
For substance-use treatment information and referrals:
SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
Website: SAMHSA
Brain, Stroke, Memory, and Neurological Care
For sudden signs of stroke, call 911. Do not drive the person yourself.
Common stroke warning signs include facial drooping, arm weakness, speech trouble, sudden confusion, loss of balance, severe headache, or sudden vision changes.
For ongoing neurological or memory concerns, families may need support from a primary-care provider, neurologist, rehabilitation therapist, or geriatric specialist.
Useful starting points include:
- Marcus Neuroscience Institute at Boca Raton Regional Hospital
- Comprehensive stroke services at St. Mary’s Medical Center
- Neurology and rehabilitation services at local hospital systems
- Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Helpline: 1-800-272-3900
Website: Alzheimer’s Association
Veterans and Military Families
Veterans and their caregivers may qualify for medical, mental-health, caregiver, transportation, and long-term-care support.
West Palm Beach VA Medical Center
7305 North Military Trail, West Palm Beach, FL 33410
Main line: 561-422-8262
VA Caregiver Support Line: 1-855-260-3274
Website: VA Caregiver Support
Before You Leave the Hospital
Ask these questions before discharge:
- What medications have changed?
- What symptoms require an urgent call or return to the ER?
- Who schedules follow-up appointments?
- Is physical, occupational, or speech therapy needed?
- Does the patient need a walker, oxygen, wound care, or home-health support?
- Is rehabilitation or skilled nursing appropriate?
- Who is the best contact for questions after discharge?
- What support will the family need at home?
Write the answers down. Ask for a printed medication list and discharge plan.
Contact Nightingale Patient Advocates
You do not have to figure out the healthcare system alone.
Nightingale Patient Advocates provides independent clinical nurse advocacy for families throughout Palm Beach County, including Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter, Juno Beach, North Palm Beach, Tequesta, West Palm Beach, Lake Park, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, Boca Raton, and nearby communities.
Contact Carolyn Wheeler, RN, to schedule a consultation and discuss the support your family needs now.
