District nurses are often faced with difficulties when patients with dementia lack the capacity to express how they feel and the family has to make end-of-life decisions for the sufferer. Although 25% of palliative care is concerned with controlling physical symptoms, health professionals are sometimes faced with challenges when one comorbidity masks another. The GP-patient relationship is central to improving overall care for these vulnerable patients and there is a continual need for a workforce to be trained and empowered to provide care with precision. This article discusses the importance of correct diagnosis during end-of-life care and makes recommendations on how this can be achieved.