Jimmy Carter’s Spirit Remains Strong After a Year of Palliative Care
Former US President Jimmy Carter’s spirit is “as strong as ever” after a year of palliative care, his grandson said in a recent statement.
“At 99 years old, we have no day-to-day expectations for his body, but we know his spirit is as strong as ever,” Jason Carter said in a video that aired on “CBS Sunday Morning.”
Jimmy Carter is the oldest living American president in history, and his resilience has been evident throughout his life. He has survived metastatic brain cancer, liver cancer, and several health challenges, including brain surgery after a fall in 2019. He entered palliative care in February 2023 after a series of hospital stays.
In palliative care, an interdisciplinary team of professionals specialized in end-of-life care cares for the whole person. They work to help manage the person’s pain and physical needs, as well as their mental and spiritual distress. Palliative care also helps the family and coordinates care, with no time limit on the duration. Many patients choose to receive care at home or in other familiar settings.
“One year after receiving palliative care, President Carter remains at home with his family. The Carter family appreciates the many outpourings of affection they have received and the continued respect for their privacy during this time,” the Carter family said in a statement this Sunday.
Carter’s wife, former first lady Rosalynn Carter, died in November at age 96. As first lady, she worked tirelessly for mental health reform and professionalized the role of the president’s wife.
The former president is widely revered for his defense of human rights. His mediation of the 1978 Camp David Accords with Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin remains central to his legacy.
Carter, a Democrat, was a peanut farmer and lieutenant in the United States Navy before entering politics. He was governor of Georgia for one term and president of the US from 1977 to 1981.
In his post-presidential years, Carter founded the Carter Center with his wife, hoping to promote peace and health in the world. The couple traveled to trouble spots around the world, including Cuba, Sudan, and North Korea, monitoring elections and working to eradicate Guinea worm disease and other neglected tropical diseases. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.
The Carter family’s openness about Jimmy Carter’s palliative care has sparked important discussions about end-of-life care across the country, and his legacy continues to inspire many.