Former President of the United States Jimmy Carter had spent a year receiving hospice care, since February last year. He has been spending time with his family.
The past year brought a roller coaster of emotions for the Carter family. Just three months after Jimmy terminated medical intervention, former First Lady Rosalynn Carter was diagnosed with dementia.
Jimmy’s son Jason has talked about the love his parents share.
“They are in love at home together and at peace with whatever comes,” Jason said in the September interview. “That love story that really defines their life continues to define it.”
In July, Jimmy and Rosalynn celebrated a remarkable 77 years of marriage at their home; in August, Rosalynn turned 96; and in October, Jimmy set a new record for a U.S. president when he turned 99.
In November, Rosalynn died after entering hospice care.
“Statistically, the majority of people who enroll in hospice care unfortunately are on hospice care for less than a month,” says Dr. Holly Yang, president of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine.
“However, people could benefit from it for months, and it’s not unusual to have people who live longer than sometimes the doctors expect.”
In March, the Carter family is being honored with a presidential citation from AAHPM — an award granted by academy president Dr. Holly Yang, one of many professionals in the field who have commended the Carters’ openness in recent months.
James IV, the Carters’ grandson, will accept the AAHPM award on his family’s behalf.
