Hospice - A Wonderful Thing

ATLANTA (Feb. 18, 2023) — After a series of short hospital stays, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter today decided to spend his remaining time at home with his family and receive hospice care instead of additional medical intervention. He has the full support of his family and his medical team. The Carter family asks for privacy during this time and is grateful for the concern shown by his many admirers, The Carter Center

My heart swelled , when I learned President Carter chose hospice. To qualify for hospice, you must have a terminal diagnosis with 6 months or less estimated to live. Choosing hospice is choosing to spend that pr time NOT in the hospital. 80% of Americans want to die at home yet only 20% of us achieve that outcome. I believe we don’t get to die at home because we fail to believe we are going to die. This denial is a huge disservice. Hospice does not mean lack of medical. When you are patient on the hospice service the focus of care is the patients comfort versus cure. What a novel thought, care should provide comfort. And guess what else? People can go off hospice if their medical prognosis changes.

President Carter in keeping with a life of service, is acting as a teacher again. He is preparing himself , his family and the public for his death. Hospice will help the Carter’s and the public announcement helps us. We as a nation can prepare for our collective grief. Hospice helps people achieve a “good death”. A death with less pain, fear and anxiety sometimes even peace. I wish a peaceful death for President Carter.