Jimmy Carter's Hospice Care Lasts Months, Is Not Surprising

by Diana Franchitto,
October 27, 2023

This commentary originally appeared in the Rhode Island Current.

I saw a clip last month of President Jimmy Carter, now 99 years old, taking a ride with his wife through a peanut festival in their hometown. That’s a happy story for many reasons. As the former president approaches his eighth month on hospice care, it’s also a chance to clear up a common myth.

Back in February, when the president’s family announced he was ending curative treatments and beginning hospice, it was perhaps natural to assume he wouldn’t live much longer. Instead, Carter has spent the better part of a year not just holding on, but truly living — in the ways that matter most to him, like with a celebratory drive beside his sweetheart.

Like many others, I was grateful to President Carter for publicly sharing his decision to begin hospice those many months ago, because it helped us raise awareness about this crucial type of care. Now, his long run on hospice gives us a chance to spotlight a truth that many find surprising: Some patients actually live longer on hospice.

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