“We’re all just walking each other home.”
- Ram Dass
Our Mission
A Hand to Hold was born from a simple belief: no one should have to face illness, loss, or grief alone.
We offer emotional, spiritual, and practical support for individuals and families navigating life’s most vulnerable moments. Through deep listening, compassionate presence, and gentle guidance, we help restore connection, comfort, and dignity to the experience of illness and end of life.
Our work is rooted in presence, compassion, and respect for every story.
We serve people of all faiths, cultures, identities, and orientations—honoring each person’s truth and the sacredness of their journey.
Our Philosophy
Presence as a Way of Caring.
At the heart of this work lies a simple truth: healing begins with presence.
When we listen without judgment and show up with open hearts, we create space for peace, meaning, and even joy to arise—often in the quietest moments.
Our approach is not to fix or advise, but to accompany.
Through stillness, reflection, and compassionate presence, we remember our shared humanity and help restore a sense of belonging.
If this work touches something in you, we invite you to reach out, for support, to volunteer, or to discover more about our approach.
Rashmi’s Story
Rashmi’s path to this work emerged through her service with patients in New York hospitals and hospices.
She was deeply moved by witnessing people face the end of life alone and by the quiet courage of families trying to hold everything together. Sitting with patients in their final days, she saw how presence, even in silence, could bring peace and connection. She also witnessed the exhaustion and burnout that so many caregivers endure and recognized the need for compassionate support for them as well. These experiences became the inspiration for A Hand to Hold.
Alongside her life in service, Rashmi continues to lead a dynamic corporate career in the technology and financial-services industry, where she focuses on transformation, innovation, and people-centered leadership. These experiences have deepened her understanding of resilience, empathy, and what it truly means to bring presence into all aspects of life — whether in business or at the bedside.
Grounded in years of contemplative and mindfulness practice, Rashmi has trained through the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care and the University of Vermont’s End-of-Life Program. Her work bridges two worlds — the professional and the spiritual — integrating the clarity of leadership with the stillness of contemplative care.
Through A Hand to Hold, she invites others to discover what becomes possible when we simply sit with one another — not to fix, but to listen; not to do, but to be.
“Our care is open to everyone, regardless of background, faith, identity, or belief. We honor the shared humanity that connects us all, meeting each person where they are with the compassion and understanding”
— Rashmi Javed
Support for Every Step of the Journey
Emotional, spiritual, and practical care for patients, families, and caregivers, meeting each person where they are, with presence and compassion.
We’re here to listen, guide, and walk alongside you through times of illness, change, and loss. Whether you’re a patient seeking peace, a caregiver needing support, or a family navigating the unknown, our team offers gentle companionship and practical guidance when it matters most.
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For patients in palliative and hospice care
Bedside presence and compassionate companionship
Conversations about end-of-life wishes and values
Guidance with advance directives and care alignment
Support through reflection, acceptance, and peace
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For loved ones coping with terminal illness
Emotional guidance when a diagnosis is received
Help processing grief while managing daily life
Resource hub for local and state services
Family conversation facilitation and support through transitions
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For those caring for others day after day
Deep listening and mindfulness-based companionship
Grounding and resilience practices for burnout and stress
Space to reflect, rest, and reconnect
Join Us in Bringing Compassion to Care
Your support helps ensure that no one has to face illness or loss alone.
Every conversation, visit, and moment of presence we offer is made possible through the kindness of others. Your donation or partnership directly supports families and patients receiving compassionate care at no cost.
Whether you give, volunteer, or simply share our story, you help bring dignity and peace to those who need it most.
Disclaimer: A Hand to Hold provides non-medical emotional, spiritual, and practical support. We do not offer medical, legal, or psychotherapy services.