What We Do

• Ensure proper pain management is provided and assist patients and their caregivers with undertreated pain;
• Seek accountability when pain management is inadequate;
• Refer qualified patients to hospice agencies;
• Consult with physicians and other healthcare providers about palliative and end-of-life care;
• Refer patients who are not terminally ill to appropriate agencies;
• Promote the use of Advance Directives;
• Guide and support patients through the options for a peaceful and humane death;
• Provide follow-up and bereavement support;
• Help create an environment that will support legal reform for patient-directed end-of-life care and dying;
• Provide personal presence at the time of death, if requested;
• Facilitate the discussion of end-of-life choices between patient and physician;
• Work with state legislators to pass laws that improve end-of-life care;
• Participate in legal efforts and court cases that affect terminally ill patients and their families.

Additionally, we distribute a variety of information to our clients, healthcare professionals, educators, students, and interested organizations.

Our community outreach includes public forums, speaking engagements, and, of course, direct client services. We are associate members of the Washington State Hospice and Palliative Care Association and hold two steering committee member positions on the Washington State End of Life Consensus Coalition, sponsored by the Washington State Medical Association. We participate on local media advisory committees, assist Senior Services of Seattle/King County with their strategic planning, and coordinate educational efforts with the Western and Central Washington State Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association. We also participated on the Medical Care Work Group of the Washington State Comprehensive Cancer Control Partnership.

C&C remains the only model of how efforts to both improve care and expand choice can be fully integrated. We are a small, but very effective grassroots organization making a real difference assisting people dealing with terminal illness, pain, and suffering.