The Family physician and the Terminally Ill Elderly.

Palliative care rests on the three pillars of symptom control, communication, and family support. As our patient population ages, we family doctors will be increasingly involved in the care of the terminally ill elderly at home. Terminal illnesses are much more common in the elderly, and often death can be predicted. Family doctors have a most important role in co-ordinating the home-support services, in providing comfort care, and in supporting the family members who are caring for the terminally ill elderly at home.