NAHC Statement on One Year Anniversary of Former President Carter Announcing He Had Entered Hospice Care

February 20, 2024

Washington, D.C. – “For the last 50 years in public life, Jimmy Carter has been a powerful moral voice, leading by example,” said William A. Dombi, President of the National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC). “Over the last year in hospice care, the former president has brought enormous attention to the value that hospice brings to patients and their families. Jimmy Carter’s length of stay in hospice is unusual, but not surprising. One thing we often hear in hospice is that patients and families wish they had understood its value sooner. Patients often see better outcomes – a better quality of life – with earlier referrals for hospice care. The sooner a patient chooses hospice, the earlier clinicians can manage their pain, reducing stress and helping them focus on what really matters to them in the time they have left. By being so open and transparent about his choice for hospice, Jimmy Carter has once again set an example for his fellow Americans.”

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Press contact:

Thomas Thelkeld, NAHC

tom@nahc.org

(202) 547-7424

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About NAHC

The National Association for Home Care & Hospice (NAHC) is the voice of home care and hospice. NAHC represents the nation’s 33,000 home care and hospice providers, along with the more than two million nurses, therapists, and aides they employ. These caregivers provide vital services to Americans who are aged, disabled, and ill. Some 12 million patients depend on home care and hospice providers, who depend on NAHC for the best in advocacy, education, and information. NAHC is a nonprofit organization that helps its members maintain the highest standards of care. To learn more, visit nahc.org.