Our society is facing one of the largest public health challenges in its history—the growth of the population of older adults. Improvements in public health, the discovery of antibiotics, and advances in modern medicine have resulted in unprecedented gains in human longevity. As the population continues to age, most physicians will be caring for chronically ill individuals whose medical care is characterized by high degrees of complexity, lengthy duration of illness, and intermittent acute exacerbations interspersed with periods of relative stability. This white paper offers an integrated model of palliative care including special issues such as dementia, nutrition, and artificial hydration.