In February 2023, it was announced that former President Jimmy Carter would be entering hospice care at his home in Plains, Georgia. A statement from his family said that he made the decision “to spend his remaining time at home with his family and receive hospice care instead of additional medical intervention.” Many believed he did not have much more time on this Earth.
According to his grandson Jason Carter, Jimmy is doing well and living his remaining life with his wife, Rosalynn Carter, by his side. He is enjoying visits with family and friends, staying updated on his foundation, and eating all the peanut butter ice cream he can. Jason would not be surprised if the 98-year-old made it to 99.
Jason was happy to give an update about his beloved grandparents.
“They’re just meeting with family right now, but they’re doing it in the best possible way: the two of them together at home,” he explained. “They’ve been together 70-plus years.”
It is not clear if Jimmy Carter is fighting a specific illness or simply aging. Before he entered hospice in February, he had several short hospital stays. He is the oldest living former US president, and he has previously battled cancer and suffered a fractured pelvis.
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The home that Jimmy is receiving hospice care in is the same house that he and Rosalynn have lived in since he was elected to the Georgia Senate in 1962. Jimmy was always a humble, non-flashy man who preferred to focus on being of service. Jason had previously said his grandfather was “at peace” with his decision to go on hospice care.
Jason gave these updates at an event held on Jimmy Carter Boulevard in Norcross, Georgia, honoring his grandfather’s legacy, which has been one of the silver linings of the hospice announcement. There have been many events like it to honor Jimmy's work not only as a former president but also as a humanitarian. It has been very moving for Jimmy and Rosalynn to see their work recognized.
“That’s been one of the blessings of the last couple of months,” Jason said. “He is certainly getting to see the outpouring and it’s been gratifying to him for sure.”
What a beautiful thing to honor a man while he is still alive.
Jason believes his grandparents are just ordinary people doing what they can to make the world a better place. “They’re just like all of y’all’s grandparents — I mean, to the extent y’all’s grandparents are rednecks from south Georgia,” he joked. “If you go down there even today, next to their sink they have a little rack where they dry Ziploc bags.”
Former UN Ambassador Andrew Young was also in attendance at the event. He recently visited with Jimmy and Rosalynn. They were happy to “laugh and joke about old times,” he recalled. “I told him, ‘You know, it took them over 50 years to appreciate President Lincoln. It may take that long to appreciate you.”
Jason is happy his grandfather is receiving both the care and the accolades he deserves. He believes he still has some living to do.
“We did think that when he went into hospice it was very close to the end,” he admitted. “Now, I’m just going to tell you, he’s going to be 99 in October.”
