Thoughts From Our President & CEO: Happy 100th Birthday Jimmy Carter

President Jimmy Carter is 100 years old today! Happy Birthday Mr. President. He’s the first former President to reach this incredible milestone. Carter was a one-term President who ultimately achieved as much notoriety for his benevolence, goodwill, and service to all humankind as he did for his presidency.

You may remember that President Carter and his wife, Rosalyn Carter, elected hospice care when it became apparent that their health issues were no longer curable. They decided to forgo any more medical treatments and focus on quality of life.  President Carter’s experience is somewhat unusual since, according to the National Institutes of Health, more than 90% of hospice patients die within six months, and a disturbing 36% of patients die within a week of entering hospice care. Carter started with hospice last February and is now in his 8th month of supportive care.

By all accounts, Carter is hanging on to cast his vote in the 2024 Presidential election. He may well get his wish. Hopefulness comes in many forms, and hospice caregivers know how important it is to recognize and celebrate what is most important to those at the end of life. Death is inevitable. Dignity, comfort, peace, and embracing the here and now is empowering. Just ask President Carter and his family.

So my message to you is this: Be like Jimmy Carter and choose how YOU wish to LIVE in the last months and days of your life. Jimmy Carter always focused on human rights and even won the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts.  I believe he’d agree that healthcare and hospice care are among the most basic of human rights.  Thank you, Mr. President – you are a champion, and I suspect you’ve done more to elevate the hospice conversation than you’ll ever get credit for.

– Sandra Cassese, President & CEO