October 2025 - Jansen Hospice

Living Well at Life’s End: Changing the Focus

Posted on October 15, 2025 by dcadmin

Facing the end of life can feel overwhelming, but with the right support, families can create space for comfort, connection, and dignity. It’s possible for your loved one to to live fully, even in the midst of illness and aging. At Jansen Hospice and Palliative Care, we’re here to be that support.

Living Well Through Change with Terminal Care at Home in Westchester County NY

End of life is really what life is all about: making the most of every day no matter what challenges you face. With the right approach, your loved one can thrive and live life to its fullest even when facing chronic health conditions. By learning how to change the focus, families can create meaningful experiences that will stick with their loved one until the very end.

Guidance for Families

Preparing doesn’t always need to feel overwhelming. Katy Butler, award-winning journalist and bestselling author, covers some of the essential topics for end of life preparation in her book The Art of Dying Well: A Practical Guide to a Good End of Life:

How to successfully age
How to choose the right doctor
When you should or shouldn’t call 911
How to see end of life as a sacred passage, not just a medical event

These topics show that care is not only about managing symptoms, but also about nurturing, strengthening relationships, and honoring the aspects of life that make each person unique. If you or someone you love is navigating serious illness or the challenges of aging, this book is a must-read. This insightful and deeply compassionate guide redefines what it means to live fully, even in the face of decline or a terminal diagnosis. Through real stories, expert advice, and step-by-step guidance, Butler shows how to take charge of your care, find peace in uncertainty, and make every moment meaningful. More than a book about dying, it’s a handbook for living well to the very end—a message that beautifully echoes the heart of hospice care.

Rooted in Meaning

When families feel prepared for terminal care, it becomes less about fear and more about connection. Instead of focusing on treating symptoms clinically, there’s space for sharing memories and joy with loved ones. This way, the final stage of life becomes not only manageable, but meaningful.

Terminal Care at Home in Westchester County

At Jansen Hospice and Palliative Care, we are here to support families through this journey. We help make sure life’s final chapter is met with love, comfort, and a sense of peace.

If you have questions or want to learn more about terminal care at home in Westchester County NY, we invite you to contact us today

The Comfort of Therapy Animals: How a Simple Purr or Paw Can Make a Huge Difference in Long Term Hospice Care

Posted on October 7, 2025September 29, 2025 by dcadmin

At Jansen Hospice and Palliative Care, we believe end of life care is more than just medical support. It’s about offering comfort, connection, and dignity at a very vulnerable time. One of the ways we enable patients and their families to take back control against a terminal illness is through our pet therapy program. This is just one of the meaningful ways our Westchester County hospice care facilities support individuals and their families through the final chapters of life with compassion and intention.

Companionship

Hospice care can sometimes feel isolating, and your loved one may even begin to withdraw as their health declines. Whether patients receive care in their own home or one of our hospice care facilities, the presence of a therapy animal can make all the difference. A purring cat in their lap or a therapy dog quietly nudging for a gentle pet creates a sense of companionship that words can’t capture. Families, too, find visits from therapy animals bring moments of joy, relief, and even laughter during a difficult time.

Rekindling Memories

Beyond companionship, therapy animals can also rekindle old memories. For some, it could help them recall a beloved pet from years past. For others, it may spark a memory tied to an animal, outdoor activity, or family story. This opens the door to storytelling and conversation, helping to restore a sense of identity and offering the space to share their life’s experiences and a few smiles, too.

Physical Benefits

Research has shown that spending time in the presence of a therapy animal can lower blood pressure, reduce anxiety, and even ease pain and symptoms. The physical and emotional relief brings comfort to everyone involved, including family and care teams.

Our dedicated pet therapist, Joel, has seen these benefits of pet therapy firsthand. He shared his experience visiting with his two beloved pets who bring joy, warmth, and peace to everyone they visit. As Joel likes to say with a smile…

“The joke is whenever I show up with Lucy and Luke, my two dogs, they [patients] go right off hospice.”

To learn more about our Westchester County hospice care, please visit our website to contact us today. We are here to help.

Jansen made an unbearable experience somewhat bearable. My wife of 52 years went into hospice at home on August 4 and died on August 29 from metastatic breast cancer. The moment we agreed with the doctors to end chemo and move to hospice, Jansen took over. Social Worker Deb Hanley organized everything. Nurse Marcia Roberts was available at all times and made sure that we had all the necessary medicines and equipment before we knew that we needed them. The aides who came to our home every day were all both kind and competent. I had never heard of Jansen before the staff at Lawrence Hospital introduced us. I do not know how to say thank you any better than writing this 5-star review.

— William