PLAINS, GEORGIA: Former President Jimmy Carter made his first public appearance since entering hospice care on the day of his 99th birthday, along with his wife Rosalynn Carter. The couple was seen driven down a black SUV as they made their way to the Plains Peanut Festival in Georgia.
Carter decided to cease all medical interventions and entered hospice care in February 2023, after announcing that he "decided to spend his remaining time at home with his family."
The former first couple built a huge family, with four children between them.
They have 3 sons, John William “Jack", 75, James Earl "Chip", 72, Donnel Jeffrey "Jeff", 70, and 1 daughter, Amy Carter, 55. From the four of them, they have 22 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Why did Jimmy Carter opt for hospice care?
The longest-living president in US history decided to enter hospice care after a series of brief hospital stays.
The rest of his days are to be spent in a modest one-story house in Plains, Georgia, where he used to live with Rosalynn when first elected to the state Senate in 1962.
Three months after entering hospice care, his wife, the 96-year-old Rosalynn, was revealed to have dementia.
While many were concerned about the aging couple, their sighting at the festival was well-received.
Footage of the former president and former FLOTUS at the Peanut Festival has been uploaded to X and has quickly received warm responses from their supporters.
One of the tweets read, "Can y’all see who is in this car? God Bless Former President Jimmy Carter and Former First Lady Carter for making the #plainspeanutfestival parade this year!!! Happy early birthday to him!"
At 77 years, the marriage between Jimmy and Rosalynn happens to be the longest between any president and first lady in US history.
Life of the former First Couple in 2023
Josh Carter, grandson of the former President, told People that his grandfather was living a quiet and peaceful life in hospice care. There is always somebody at the house to keep his grandparents company — often, it is one of their kids.
Although the couple is not as active as they once were, they are aware of what is going on around them and fully understand the good wishes and love that they have received in recent times.
Rosalynn is aware of her dementia diagnosis, but she "still knows who we are, for the most part, that we are family," Josh explained.
