Westchester home hospice care Archives

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.

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

Posted on September 19, 2025August 8, 2025 by dcadmin

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

Posted on September 8, 2025August 8, 2025 by dcadmin

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.

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

Posted on July 24, 2025July 16, 2025 by dcadmin

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.

Westchester County Hospice Care That Moves Quickly and Cares Deeply

Posted on June 16, 2025July 7, 2025 by dcadmin

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.

This place changed everything for my family. We struggled with caring for my mom at home for 5 years and when they arrived it was like angels singing... Our social worker - Jody and our RN Violeta - made my mom comfortable and cared not only for her, but for our family as if we were their own. They were kind, compassionate and knowledgeable. I HIGHLY recommend them!!!

— Jody