What Are the Core Values of Hospice of Westchester?

Hospice of Westchester states seven core values that guide its end-of-life care: commitment and compassion for those served and for each other; respect for individuality, diversity, personal choice, and spiritual belief; a continuous pursuit of organizational excellence; honesty and integrity in all it says and does; stewardship of entrusted resources; teamwork to achieve its mission and support its values; and ethical relationships with all community partners. These values apply to anyone evaluating the organization's philosophy of care, whether for a family member or as a referring professional.

The seven core values, as published

How the values connect to the mission

The mission statement frames the values in practical terms: Hospice of Westchester is "committed to providing compassionate end of life care," combining "the highest level of quality medical care with emotional and spiritual support enabling individuals and their loved ones to make the most of each day."

Two values map directly onto that mission. "Respect for individuality, diversity, personal choice and spiritual belief" is the stated basis for individualized care rather than a single standardized approach. "Commitment and compassion for those we serve and each other" extends the standard of care to the staff and volunteers delivering it, not only to patients and families.

Where the values show up in care delivery

The values are not only a statement — the site describes how care is organized around them. Hospice of Westchester brings together "a team of highly educated professionals and volunteers who work with the patient's physician to develop an individualized plan of care designed to control pain and comfort our patients and their families." All clinicians work under the direction of a hospice medical director.

That structure reflects several values at once: teamwork across disciplines, respect for personal choice through individualized planning, and organizational excellence through clinical oversight. The service lines listed include:

• Social Work
• Spiritual Care
• Bereavement Services
• Complementary Care
• Comfort Crew
• Pediatrics
• Volunteer Services

The inclusion of spiritual care and bereavement services aligns with the stated respect for spiritual belief and for the family unit, not just the patient.

Why this matters if you are choosing a hospice

The site itself poses the question "How do I choose a Hospice?" and answers it with "The Hospice of Westchester difference." For a family comparing providers, published core values are a useful starting point because they indicate what an organization says it prioritizes — individualized care, ethical conduct, and stewardship among them. The practical next step is to test those claims against specifics: ask how an individualized plan of care is built, who directs the clinical team, and which services (spiritual care, bereavement, pediatrics) are available.

One family's experience is quoted on the site: "By having Fred at home I could be with him all the time. Our children, our grandchildren, our friends could visit at any time..." That account speaks to the choice-and-comfort dimension the values describe, though it reflects one family's experience rather than a guarantee of outcomes.

Questions to ask when you contact them

• How is the individualized plan of care developed, and how often is it reviewed?
• Who serves on the care team, and how does the hospice medical director oversee clinicians?
• What spiritual care and bereavement support are available to family members?
• How are volunteers involved, and what training do they receive?

These questions turn the published values into verifiable details about how care would actually be delivered in your situation.