The work of a specialist advisory home care service for the terminally ill during 1980 is reported, with reference to the demands it made on community services. Whilst there was no change in demand for home helps, there was a 44 per cent increase in visiting by community nurses for male patients and a 117 per cent increase for female patients. Commodes, ripple mattresses and backrests were all essential and an increased need of over 100 per cent in each was recorded. Patients were attended on average for three months (men) and six months (women) and 41 per cent were able to remain at home until their death.