Does choosing hospice mean the end? President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalyn courageously allowed us to see their frailty and openly shared their journey near the end of life, including decisions for hospice so they could spend as much time as possible together. The Carters have shown us hospice is about holding hands, eating favorite foods, and living your best life, even while dying.

Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter died on November 19, 2023, two days after the Carter Center announced she would be entering hospice with a diagnosis of end stage dementia. The Carters demonstrate that hospice support can last a couple of days, or in the case of Mr. Carter, 11 months and still counting. This week we explore the lessons we can learn from the Carter family regarding aging, illness, and loving.

In this Episode:

• 02:16 – Recipe: Rosalyn Carter’s Cheese Ring
• 02:38 – Rosalyn Carter’s Advocacy for Caregivers
• 06:51 – Jimmy Carter’s Hospice Decision
• 08:59 – How Some Patients Live Longer on Hospice
• 11:09 – The Realities of Hospice…is Home the Best Place to Die for Everyone?
• 18:07 – How the Carters Modeled How to Die
• 24:59 – Outro

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