Community Conversations on Compassionate Care (CCCC)

Community Conversations on Compassionate Care (CCCC) is an award-winning nationally recognized, evidence-based advance care planning program developed to help individuals over 18 years of age complete health care proxies, the key advance directive in New York, using storytelling and “Five Easy Steps.”

Advance Care Planning is not just for older adults or people with serious illness. Anyone can face acute illness of injury and lose the ability to make medical decisions.  Individuals can take control of the quality of their life in the future by choosing a person they trust to make decisions if they lose the ability to do so, have a conversation with that person and their loved ones about what matters most and complete a New York health care proxy.

Planning for the future is a process that takes time and effort. It takes more than learning about advance care planning. Advance care planning is part of wellness.  Studies have found that people move through a series of stages when modifying behavior, such as quitting smoking or modifying diet or exercise. Similarly, people are in different stages of the process. It helps to recognize where you are in the process and your readiness to take action.

Five Easy Steps

The CCCC program is based on the behavioral readiness of individuals to take action, as outlined in the Five Easy Steps.

1. Learn About Advance Directives

• New York Health Care Proxy
• A Health Care Proxy is the most important advance directive that you can complete. It only goes into effect when the patient loses the ability to make medical decisions. Everyone age 18 and older should complete a Health Care Proxy and have a conversation with their family.
• New York Living Will
• A Living Will is an optional advance directive that only applies when a person has a terminal and irreversible condition. The Living Will, while not a legal document, is recognized as “clear and convincing evidence” of a person’s preferences. This document may be useful to a physician or NP in community settings when their patient is near the end of life and they don’t have/can’t complete a health care proxy. In those circumstances a living will can be used to make end-of-life decisions on a legal pathway known as Checklist 5.
• Advance Directives from other states
• Advance Care Planning (ny.gov)

2. Remove Barriers

• Identify why you haven’t done an advance directive

3. Motivate Yourself

• Share stories

4. Complete Your Health Care Proxy and Living Will

• Talk to your loved ones and doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant
• Choose the right health care agent
• Discuss your values, beliefs and what is important to you
• Know how to make medical decisions
• Understand life-sustaining treatment
• Put it in writing and complete the forms
• Share copies

5. Review and Update

• Make time to review and update your advance directives periodically