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Living Well at Life’s End: Changing the Focus

Living Well at Life’s End: Changing the Focus

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

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.

The Art of a Life Well Lived: Hospice Care in Westchester County

When facing the end of life, the question often arises: What does it mean to live well? At Jansen Hospice and Palliative Care, we believe that a life well lived is one that is remembered with tenderness, care, and dignity. Located in Westchester County, our hospice care facilities support patients and families through the final chapters of life with compassion and intention.

More Than Medical Care: Connection

Jansen Hospice offers more than just clinical support. We view every patient as a whole person, not a diagnosis. In our Westchester County in-home hospice care program, patients are surrounded by familiar comforts and supported by therapies that soothe the body and the spirit.

We offer a range of services including acupuncture, aromatherapy, music therapy, Reiki, and pet therapy. These approaches are grounded in the idea that the quality of one’s final days can reflect the beauty of their entire life. Whether patients receive care in their home or in one of our Westchester County hospice care facilities, they are met with unwavering compassion.

Home Hospice Care Where Every Life Is Honored

Our team works to ensure that each patient feels seen, heard, and valued. From the moment a family chooses Jansen, they become part of a care environment rooted in love and respect. The question we return to again and again is simple, but profound: Was I loved, and did I love in return? At Jansen, we help our patients answer that with a resounding yes.

Families searching for Westchester home hospice care often tell us that what sets Jansen apart is the sense of presence we bring. It’s not just about symptom management. It’s about honoring the story of a person’s life and helping them feel the impact they’ve had on the world.

 

Can’t Watch the Video? Here’s a Transcript

It’s been said that a life well lived is the most exquisite work of art. I’m Tara Flanagan, the chaplain with Jansen Hospice and Palliative Care. At Jansen, we see every life as a finely detailed portrait. We ask ourselves at the end of life, was I loved, and did I love? And I think this is such a beautiful way of approaching that central ethics question of the good life— and the good life as one where you receive and give love. And at Jansen, we really strive to embody that love for our patients. They’re not alone, and they know that they mattered. From acupuncture, aroma, and music therapy, Reiki to pet therapy, Jansen provides unparalleled care for a life well lived.

If you are looking for Westchester County NY hospice care, we invite you to contact us and reach out to learn more about how Jansen Hospice and Palliative Care supports patients and families.

A Life Well Lived: Lessons from a Park Bench

At Jansen Hospice and Palliative Care, we are often reminded that the final chapters of life can be the most meaningful. In the stillness of those moments, there is space for presence, for reflection, and for gratitude.

One of our longtime volunteers, Tina Stout, shared a memory that captures the beauty of what we strive to provide: the chance for each person to live well until the very end. A memory that is about moments that carry weight. Moments that teach us something about being alive.

The Gift of Awareness in At Home Hospice Care

Tina sat beside a patient, a woman she refers to as Charlotte, who was living with pancreatic cancer. Charlotte did not have many weeks left, and she knew it. And yet what she offered that day was not fear or sorrow. It was awareness.

They were mid-conversation when Charlotte stopped, caught by the sight of a cherry tree in bloom. What she said next stayed with Tina for years.

A Moment That Changed Everything

 

Can’t watch the video? Here’s a transcript of Tina’s story:

“Hello, I’m Tina Stout. In one of my first years as a Jansen volunteer, I was sitting on a park bench with a patient—I’ll call her Charlotte, though that wasn’t her real name. Charlotte had pancreatic cancer and knew she did not have many more weeks to live.

It was a beautiful afternoon in the spring, and we were talking. I can’t remember about what. Suddenly, Charlotte stopped herself mid-sentence and pointed to a beautiful blooming cherry tree. ‘Look,’ she said. ‘Look at that tree. I don’t think anything can be more beautiful than when you think you may be seeing it for the last time.’

Together, we looked at that tree, and at other trees, and at the flowers. We watched mothers pushing strollers and listened to the train that rolled by behind us. And all of it, if not for the last time, was close to the last time for Charlotte.

We at Jansen try to help every patient have a life well lived. But it became clear to me that they are also guiding us. They remind me every time to embrace life and try to live well for myself every day. It’s an amazing gift that you have for us.”

More Than a Westchester Home Hospice Care Volunteer

What Tina’s story shows is that hospice care is about relationships. It is about bearing witness to the full experience of life, including its end. Tina did not go into that afternoon expecting to be changed, but she was.

Moments like these do not require grand gestures or perfect words. They just need space. At Jansen, we work every day to create that space within our Westchester County home hospice care services, so people can look at a cherry tree and see it as if for the first time.

Our patients are not just receiving care. They are also teaching us how to live. They remind us to slow down, to pay attention, and to find beauty in what we often overlook.

If you or a loved one are looking for Westchester home hospice care, please don’t hesitate to reach out and contact us. We will take you in with open arms, and welcome you warmly into the Jansen Family.

Quality Over Everything: How Jansen Hospice Brings Peace and Presence to the End of Life

Choosing hospice is never an easy decision, but it’s one that more families are approaching with open hearts and greater understanding. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many have started to reevaluate what truly matters at the end of life: connection, peace, and the ability to reflect without regret.

At Jansen Hospice, we believe that hospice care at home in Westchester NY should give patients more than comfort. It should offer time, time to talk, to reconcile, to simply be with the people and memories that matter most.

Nolene Moohan, one of our experienced Jansen Hospice nurses, reflects on this shift in perspective:

“Hello, my name is Nolene Moohan. I’m a Jansen Hospice nurse. I think people’s attitudes towards hospice are changing dramatically, particularly since COVID, and how important it is that the quality of that life is addressed and that the patients are given what they truly need at that time, which is quality.”

Small Hospice, Big Impact

At Jansen, our size allows us to deliver deeply personal care that’s tailored to each family’s unique experience.

“Jansen may be small, but the advantage of being small is that we can spend more time, quality time with our patients towards the end of life.”

This is what sets our home hospice care apart. We are managing symptoms, we’re creating space for meaning and connection. Our nurses, social workers, and caregivers work closely with each patient and family to ensure their final days are lived fully and intentionally.

If you’re considering home hospice in Westchester, our team prioritizes comfort and presence in everything we do.

A Life Without Regret

For Nolene and the rest of our team, the goal is simple: help people feel peace in their final chapter.

“We like to be able to say we’ve made amends for things that we need to make amends for. No regrets. You live your life well and that we are happy with what we’ve left behind and what we did to be a part of it. That’s a life well lived.”

That belief drives our approach to home hospice Westchester NY, because hospice is about celebrating life, sharing love, and leaving behind something meaningful.

Contact us today if you have questions or want to learn more about our hospice services in NY.

Jansen Hospice. For a life well lived.

Enhancing Life Through Care: Matthew’s Perspective on Hospice at Home in Westchester NY

Facing the end of life is one of the most emotional and complex times a family can experience. It often brings difficult decisions, misconceptions about what hospice means, and the fear that choosing hospice is the same as giving up. At Jansen Hospice, we’re here to change that perception, and to walk with families every step of the way.

Our mission is rooted in dignity, compassion, and community. We’re proud to offer hospice care at home in Westchester NY that places people, at the center of care.

One of our nurses, Matthew Fisher, shared what makes Jansen different, and why he feels so connected to the people he serves:

“Hi, I’m Matthew Fisher. I’m a Jansen Hospice nurse. Jansen is a different kind of hospice than, um, other hospices in the area. We are small and with that comes really patient centered care. I worked at a large hospice before this, and, um, there is just a whole different level of care at Jansen.”

Hospice with The Highest Possible Quality

Many families exploring home hospice in Westchester NY hesitate out of fear that hospice care signals defeat. But as Matthew explains, hospice at home is about presence, peace, and quality.

“A lot of family members think that going on hospice means that we’re giving up on someone that we love. But I find it that we’re not giving up on them, we are just enhancing their quality of life. Hospice is not about giving up, just about enhancing what we have right now.”

This philosophy is at the core of Jansen’s approach to home hospice care in Westchester NY. We support patients and families through medical care, comfort, conversation, and a deep respect for each moment.

A Nurse From the Community, For the Community

Jansen is a healthcare provider and a neighbor. Matthew’s story reflects the community-based spirit that makes hospice at home in Westchester NY feel truly personal:

“I live in the community that I’m serving. This is my community.”

When you choose home hospice in Westchester, you’re receiving care from people who know the area, understand local families, and treat each patient like their own neighbor.

Jansen Hospice: For a Life Well Lived

At Jansen, we honor life, and help you manage its final chapter. Matthew expresses this perfectly:

“We are there for our death of the patients, but we are there for the life. And it’s been the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done in my nursing career.”

Whether you’re exploring hospice care at home in Westchester NY or considering home hospice services in Westchester, Jansen’s commitment remains the same: to enhance quality of life with compassion, connection, and exceptional care.

Contact us today. If you have questions or want to learn more about hospice in Westchester County NY, visit us at JansenHospice.org.

Jansen Hospice. For a life well lived.

Holistic Westchester County Hospice Care: Music, Massage, and More

More Than Medicine: How Jansen Hospice Uses Complementary Therapies to Enrich End-of-Life Care

At Jansen Hospice, care isn’t just about managing symptoms, it’s about honoring the whole person. For families seeking Westchester County hospice care or exploring home hospice care, the emotional, spiritual, and human sides of the journey are just as important as the medical. That’s why Jansen offers a powerful range of complementary therapies that go beyond traditional care to bring comfort, dignity, and joy.

Laura Hamlin, one of our compassionate social workers, explains:

“Hi, I’m Laura Hamlin and I’m a Jansen Hospice social worker. People ask why do we offer complimentary care? And most people don’t even know what complimentary care is, and it’s one of the best things that Jansen does. If you like, I can tell you about it.”

What Is NY Home Hospice Complementary Care?

Complementary care includes therapies designed to support patients’ emotional and spiritual well-being alongside their physical needs. As Laura shares, Jansen’s offerings are extensive:

“We offer massage therapy, Reiki/integrative healing therapy. We offer music therapy, art therapy, yoga therapy, and acupuncture—and my favorite, which is pet therapy.”

For those searching for Westchester County in-home hospice care, this additional layer of support can make all the difference. These therapies are moments of connection, healing, and humanity.

“You should see the looks on the patient’s faces. It makes you feel good as a human being because they’re still part of this world.”

That simple statement reflects one of Jansen’s deepest beliefs: even in a person’s final chapter, there is still space for beauty, joy, and presence.

A Life Fully Lived

Every piece of our care is designed to reflect our guiding belief: that every patient deserves a life well lived. Laura puts it beautifully:

“What does a life well lived mean? You’ve lived, you’ve experienced, you’ve taken life, and you’ve said to it, you know what? I’m gonna experience you. That’s a great part of it.”

At Jansen, our Westchester County NY hospice care combines expert medical treatment with therapies that care for the soul. Whether you’re considering  hospice care facilities or looking for trusted in-home hospice care in Westchester, Jansen’s approach ensures patients are seen, heard, and honored.

If you’d like to learn more about our Westchester County NY hospice care and how complementary therapies can make a difference, contact us today.

Not Alone on the Journey: Dot’s Perspective on Intimate Hospice Care in Westchester County

Facing the end-of-life journey is never easy, for patients or for their families. It’s a time filled with uncertainty, emotion, and the overwhelming fear of facing it all alone. At Jansen Hospice, we work every day to replace that fear with comfort, connection, and clarity. Our team is proud to offer families hospice care in Westchester County.

Dot Balaban, one of our dedicated hospice nurses, speaks to this experience with a warmth and sincerity that captures what makes Jansen so unique:

My name is Dot Balaban and I am a Jansen Hospice nurse. When I start to work with families that have joined hospice, I recognize that this is a very intimate part of their life and to be part of that journey with them and as a family member is something that is extremely personal.

A More Intimate Hospice Experience

What sets Jansen apart from other hospice facilities in Westchester NY isn’t just our clinical expertise, it’s how we show up for families. Dot describes it best:

I like to have that feeling of intimacy, of how we go in and we are available to the families, not just to assist the patient and the family, both emotionally and spiritually. I don’t like to say that Jansen’s a smaller hospice. I like to say that we’re a more intimate hospice.

In a time when many families are overwhelmed with the logistics and emotional toll of caregiving, Dot and the Jansen team offer something essential: presence. It’s the difference between a service and a relationship. At Jansen, we prioritize both.

Whether you’re looking into hospice care facilities Westchester or seeking home hospice care, our team is available to guide, listen, and support.

Guidance When You Need It Most

For so many, hospice feels like an unknown road. But as Dot reminds us:

We guide the family, guide the patient, because they think that they’re on this journey alone, but they’re not. They’re on the journey with Jansen.

Jansen Hospice provides comprehensive Westchester County NY hospice care, built on compassion, responsiveness, and trust. We believe that no family should face these final moments without someone to walk beside them.

Jansen Hospice. For a life well lived.

We offer hospice care facilities in Westchester County to in-home hospice care across Westchester County NY. Jansen’s mission remains the same: to make each moment meaningful, supported, and full of dignity.

If you have questions or want to learn more about our hospice care facilities in Westchester County, we invite you to contact us today!

 

Westchester County Hospice Care That Moves Quickly and Cares Deeply

Navigating the final chapter of a loved one’s life is never easy. It’s an emotional time filled with uncertainty, where families are searching not only for answers but for comfort, clarity, and compassion. At Jansen Hospice, we believe no one should go through this alone. We are proud to serve families throughout Westchester County with hospice care that is both medically expert and deeply personal.

One of our families, the Gordons, shared a moving account of how Jansen’s presence brought peace during a profoundly difficult time.

A Partner in Challenging Moments

Susan Gordon turned to Jansen Hospice when her husband became seriously ill. She recalls how quickly and compassionately our team responded to their needs:

“We needed to move quickly, and they were on board with getting things approved—I think within 24 hours. What I appreciated was how quickly they reacted and how supported I felt through every step.”

In moments that call for immediate care, having a responsive team can make all the difference. That’s where Jansen stands apart. Our staff understands that families in crisis need action, not red tape. This commitment to timeliness is central to our Westchester County in-home hospice care, where patients receive immediate, high-quality support in the comfort of their homes.

More Than Medical Support: A Human Connection

“The nurse and the social worker took our hands and walked us through every step,” Susan says. “They took care of everything. I just was blown away.”

Hear the full story, and more anecdotes from our clients here!

Families seeking Westchester County hospice care often assume the process will be overwhelming or clinical. But for Susan, what stood out most wasn’t just the care, it was the compassion. Jansen’s team formed a bond, offering comfort at every turn.

This kind of personal care is at the heart of our mission. Whether in your home or at one of our partner Westchester County hospice facilities, we approach every family with empathy, dignity, and the belief that each life deserves to be honored with peace.

The Jansen Difference of In-Home Hospice Care in Westchester County NY

Jansen Hospice offers a full spectrum of hospice care in Westchester County NY from in-home visits to coordination with local medical professionals. Our goal is always the same: to give families the freedom to focus on love, connection, and meaning, while we manage the care.

“To have that personal touch and feel like you are important to them,” Susan adds, “is what really captured me.”

It’s a sentiment we hear often, and it’s what continues to guide us in providing Westchester home hospice care that’s truly centered on families.

A Life Well Lived

At Jansen, our guiding philosophy is simple: to honor life with grace and care. We don’t just treat symptoms, we support stories, memories, and relationships. For Susan and countless others, that difference is deeply felt.

If you or someone you love is seeking hospice care in Westchester County NY, or has questions about Westchester County in-home hospice care, we are here to help.

Finding Peace in Difficult Times: Nan’s Story of Compassionate Hospice Care

Navigating the end-of-life journey for a loved one is undeniably one of life’s most challenging experiences. It’s a time often marked by a whirlwind of emotions, uncertainties, and a profound desire to ensure comfort and peace. At Jansen Hospice, we understand this deeply, and our mission extends beyond clinical care to providing a holistic embrace of support for both patients and their families.

We recently heard a powerful story from Nan, whose experience with Jansen Hospice during her brother’s final days beautifully illustrates the profound impact of compassionate, skilled care. Her experience is just one example of the difference quality hospice care in Westchester can make.

The Comfort of Expert Guidance

Nan reflects on the overwhelming nature of the situation, a common feeling for caregivers. This resonates strongly with many families who find themselves in a caregiving role.

Listen to Nan’s reflection on her experience:

“My name is Nan. We used Jansen Hospice for my brother and couldn’t be more pleased with the service that we received. Just getting the education from the nurses made all the difference in the world. It just took a little bit of the fear out of that next step. That was a very positive experience. I cannot imagine doing this alone. You have to have trained nurses and a person with compassion. We can have all the compassion that they needed, but we don’t have the skills to give the patient the level of comfort and reduce their anxiety and take pain away.”

Beyond Compassion: The Skills That Matter

For Nan, the turning point was the education and reassurance provided by the Jansen team. This highlights a crucial aspect of hospice care in Westchester County: empowering families with knowledge and confidence, turning uncertainty into clarity.

The emotional burden of solitary caregiving is immense. Nan poignantly states that she “cannot imagine doing this alone.” This underscores the vital role of a dedicated hospice team. While family members offer boundless love and compassion, they often lack the specialized skills to manage complex medical needs and anxieties. Jansen Hospice bridges this gap, providing trained nurses and compassionate individuals who work quickly and effectively to bring calm and comfort. They are not just medical professionals; they are a supportive presence, ensuring that families feel heard, understood, and never isolated.

Ultimately, Nan’s story speaks to the core of Jansen Hospice’s philosophy: to offer “a life well lived.” It’s about more than just medical support; it’s about fostering an environment of peace, dignity, and unwavering care, allowing families to focus on precious moments, knowing they are in good hands.

If you or a loved one are facing this difficult journey and have questions, or want to learn more about how Jansen Hospice can offer support and peace, please contact us today. We believe that every family deserves compassionate guidance and the comfort of knowing they are not alone.

Learn more about hospice care in Westchester NY by reaching out to our team.

We were beyond delighted with the compassionate and professional care we received from Jansen. I would particularly like to recognize our nurse, Noleen, who made a difference in how we experienced my mother’s passing. I want to share my tremendous thanks and appreciation.

— Nan Mitchell Harman