In less than a week, our 39th president will turn 100 years old. He has been in hospice care for over a year and a half, challenging what many people think of when they think about hospice care.
When Carter entered hospice, The Carter Center commented, “after a series of short hospital stays, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter today decided to spend his remaining time at home with his family and receive hospice care instead of additional medical intervention.” This is a very common route for hospice care, with a person and their loved ones focusing on quality of life in their remaining days.
When he entered hospice, Carter’s family believed he only had days or weeks left. But the former president has instead remained strong for over 18 months, giving him additional time to reflect and connect with family members. He also attended the funeral for his wife of 77 years, Rosalynn Carter, who passed away last November.
Carter’s experience in hospice care, while not the norm, demonstrates how unpredictable the time spent in hospice can be. For us, hospice care is about providing the best possible experience in an extraordinarily hard period of life, however that unpredictable journey may unfold. If you are considering hospice care for a loved one, we welcome you to contact us for more information.
