In Memoriam – Former President Jimmy Carter (1924-2024)
(Hunt Valley, Maryland, December 29, 2024) – Gilchrist deeply mourns the passing of the 39th President of the United States, James Earl “Jimmy” Carter. President Carter died peacefully at his home in Plains, Georgia, surrounded by his loving family, on Sunday, December 29, 2024, at the age of 100. Renowned for his post-presidential humanitarian work, primarily through the Carter Center, President Carter dedicated over four decades to promoting global health, democracy, and human rights.
On February 18, 2023, the Carter Center shared that President Carter would spend his remaining days in the comfort of his home, receiving hospice care rather than continuing medical intervention. This decision came after President Carter faced several health challenges, including melanoma that had spread to his liver and brain. Choosing hospice care, a choice made with his family and medical advisors, allowed him to embrace his final days with dignity and peace.
This decision spurred a national conversation, challenging the stigmas associated with hospice care and highlighting the focus on providing comfort and quality of life for those with serious illnesses in homes, nursing facilities, or hospice centers. President Carter had the foresight to recognize the benefits of hospice, which seeks to manage symptoms in a way that can prolong life, as opposed to aggressive curative treatments that can sometimes shorten it. Statistics from the National Hospice & Palliative Care Organization show that individuals who choose hospice care often experience longer, more meaningful final days. Carter’s tenure in hospice care, which lasted over a year, exemplifies this type of care’s significant, yet often misunderstood, advantages.
Gilchrist, Maryland’s premier hospice provider for the past 30 years, is more than just medical care; it is a comprehensive approach that supports our patients’ and their families’ emotional, spiritual, and practical needs. “Our teams at Gilchrist ensure that individuals live out their lives in comfort, surrounded by loved ones, rather than enduring stressful hospital stays,” says Gilchrist’s president, Cathy Hamel.
President Carter’s choice reflects his commitment to dignity and quality of life, values that Gilchrist upholds for all patients. As we remember President Carter, Gilchrist encourages everyone to consider their end-of-life plans and to discuss them openly with loved ones and healthcare providers.
For more information about Gilchrist and the services we provide, please visit our website at:
https://gilchristcares.org/about/