Many elderly and demented individuals require palliative care. The goal of the general knowledge approach and the chain of palliative care described here is to disseminate knowledge about palliative care throughout the population and to make it available to all who need it. Innovative training models and a tiered model for learning and teaching are presented. The contents of a basic course in palliative care for all staff in elder care and health services are outlined. Courses in "Last Aid" could spread basic knowledge of palliative care across the entire population.