Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter has entered hospice care to “spend his remaining time at home with his family” after a series of short hospital stays, the Carter Center announced on Feb. 18. The statement did not specify what ailments Carter is currently facing.
Carter, who is 98, is the oldest living former president in U.S. history.
“He has the full support of his family and his medical team,” the Carter Center wrote in a public statement. “The Carter family asks for privacy during this time and is grateful for the concern shown by his many admirers.”
The 39th president’s decision to enter hospice care follows years of health concerns. In 2015, Carter underwent treatment for the metastatic melanoma, which had spread to his liver and brain, at Emory’s Winship Cancer Institute. He beat the disease after enduring stereotactic radiation and a new immunotherapy drug, despite being told he only had weeks to live.
Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter gives a speech at Emory University. (Hagar Elsayed/Former Photo Editor)
Four years later, Carter faced a series of injuries. In May 2019, he broke his hip and underwent surgery after falling in his Plains, Ga. home on his way to go turkey hunting. In October 2019, Carter fell and received stitches on his face, then suffered a minor pelvic fracture after falling again later that same month.
In November 2019, Carter was hospitalized and underwent surgery to relieve pressure on his brain at Emory University Hospital. The pressure was caused by a subdural hematoma, which occurs when a blood vessel bursts near the brain’s surface, resulting in blood collecting between the brain and outside layers of tissue. The hematoma was a result of Carter’s previous falls.
Joining Emory University’s community in 1982 as a university distinguished professor, Carter has been affiliated with Emory for years. That same year, the University began hosting the annual Carter Town Hall, an event for first-year students to ask Carter an array of questions, whether humorous or political. During the 39th town hall, Carter discussed political issues such as party polarization and female representation in the U.S. government. For his final question of the night, Carter answered that, as a peanut farmer, he never intends to try almond butter.
Carter spoke at the first 38 town halls before being forced to miss the event in 2020 while recovering from his brain surgery. His grandson, former state Sen. Jason Carter (D-42), replaced Carter at the event, although the former president still provided a pre-recorded clip wishing students a successful academic year.
The Carter Center, which Carter and his wife Rosalynn Carter founded in 1982, has partnered with Emory to advance health and human rights. Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his humanitarian work.
Jason Carter retweeted the Carter Center’s Feb. 18 announcement, thanking everyone for their support as his grandfather enters hospice.
“I saw both of my grandparents yesterday,” Jason Carter tweeted. “They are at peace and — as always — their home is full of love.”
Madi Olivier is from Highland Village, Texas, and is majoring in psychology and minoring in rhetoric, writing and information design. Outside of the Wheel, she is involved in psychology research and works for the Trevor Project. In her free time, you can find her trying not to fall while bouldering and watching Criminal Minds with her cat.
