Former U.S. president Jimmy Carter has begun receiving palliative care after multiple brief hospital stays, as announced by the Carter Center in a posted update on its Twitter account this weekend. The family and medical team jointly shared that Carter chose to remain at home, surrounded by loved ones, to receive comfort-focused care rather than curative treatment. The decision was made with full support from his family and medical advisers. Carter, at 98, is the longest-living former president in U.S. history, having led the nation from 1977 to 1981 before giving way to Ronald Reagan.
Throughout his presidency, Carter pursued significant foreign policy milestones. These included the Panama Canal treaties, the Camp David Accords which helped broker peace between Egypt and Israel, the SALT II strategic arms agreement with the Soviet Union, and the normalization of diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China. Domestically, his administration established the Departments of Energy and Education and promoted stronger environmental protection laws. Carter later received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 in recognition of his humanitarian work and ongoing efforts to advance global peace and human rights.
In its note, the Carter Center emphasized the family’s request for privacy while expressing gratitude for the outpouring of care and affection from supporters and friends. The statement underscored a focus on comfort and family presence during this phase, reflecting Carter’s long-standing commitment to public service and personal dignity. The broader public remains attentive to updates from the Center as Carter’s health situation evolves, while many continue to celebrate his enduring legacy in leadership, diplomacy, and humanitarian work. [Carter Center statement, 2024]