The gerontological nurse practitioner (GNP) has the educational and experiential background to provide support for older dying patients and their families through the use of palliative care. When patients are in a hospital or nursing home, the GNP can support and educate staff on palliative care and pain control measures. GNPs can be a resource for providing psychological support to families and patients. The GNP can use the palliative care model to reduce the length of stay in an institution by informing patients and their families of the option to use hospice services in the home setting, and can serve as a liaison between hospital or nursing home and home hospice care services.