Ex-president Jimmy Carter, 98, 'will live to 99' thanks to faith in wife of 77 years Rosalynn

Jimmy Carter's grandson, Jason, said his grandfather and grandmother, Rosalynn, were maintaining a positive outlook

UPDATED MAY 25, 2023

Former president Jimmy Carter is currently receiving end-of-life care in his home in Georgia (Photo by Jessica McGowan/Getty Images)

PLAINS, GEORGIA: Former US president Jimmy Carter is reportedly in "good spirits" as he spends his final days surrounded by his loved ones while receiving end-of-life care at home. Carter, 98, announced in February that after a string of brief hospital stints, he would forgo further medical treatment and will enter hospice care at his home in Plains, Georgia, where he resided after being elected to the state Senate in 1962.

Carter's grandson, Jason, recently gave an update about his health. He said, "We did think that when he went into hospice it was very close to the end. Now, I'm just going to tell you, he's going to be 99 in October.” He added that the nonagenarian maintained a positive outlook along with his wife and former first lady, 95-year-old Rosalynn, whom he married in 1946. "They've been together 70-plus years. Their faith is really grounding at this moment. In that way, it's as good as it can be,” Jason said in a recent interview, according to Radar Online.

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LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 3: Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter receives delivers a lecture on the eradication of the Guinea worm, at the House of Lords on February 3, 2016 in London. The lecture, entitled Final Days of the Fiery Serpent: Guinea Worm Eradication, was delivered by President Carter on behalf of The Carter Centre. (Photo by Eddie Mullholland-WPA Pool/Getty Images) — Former US President Jimmy Carter receives delivers a lecture on the eradication of the Guinea worm, at the House of Lords on February 3, 2016 in London. (Photo by Eddie Mullholland-WPA Pool/Getty Images)

'It's been gratifying to him for sure'

Jason continued that Carter and Rosalynn had been spending a lot of time with their family in recent weeks. "They're just meeting with family right now, but they're doing it in the best possible way: the two of them together at home," he stated, adding that the silver lining was that his grandfather had "decided to spend his remaining time at home with his family."

LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 06: Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter (L) and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter attend the 25th anniversary MusiCares 2015 Person Of The Year Gala honoring Bob Dylan at the Los Angeles Convention Center on February 6, 2015 in Los Angeles, California. The annual benefit raises critical funds for MusiCares' Emergency Financial Assistance and Addiction Recovery programs. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) — Former US President Jimmy Carter (L) and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter attend the 25th anniversary MusiCares 2015 Person Of The Year Gala honoring Bob Dylan (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)

Tributes have been pouring in ever since Carter's hospice care began. The media's focus was on his 1977–81 presidency and the couple co-founding of The Carter Centre, which focused on worldwide humanitarian activities, in 1982. "That's been one of the blessings of the last couple of months. He is certainly getting to see the outpouring and it's been gratifying to him for sure,” Jason said at an event honoring his grandfather on Tuesday, May 23. He added that the ex-president's love for peanut butter ice cream has never wavered, according to the Daily Mail.

U.S. president Jimmy Carter smiling at a podium in front of an American flag, 1970s. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) — Tributes have been puring in ever since ex-president Jimmy Carter started hospice care (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Why did Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter start The Carter Center?

Carter still receives updates on The Carter Center's Guinea worm eradication program, which he and Rosalynn started in the mid-1980s when millions of people were afflicted by the parasite after drinking contaminated water. Former UN Ambassador when Carter was president, Andrew Young, stated that he visited them "a few weeks back" and was "very pleased we could laugh and joke about old times."

On Tuesday, Young and Jason joined other friends and admirers for a celebration of the former president along Jimmy Carter Boulevard in the Norcross area, which is located just northeast of Atlanta.

Democrat Jimmy Carter is sworn in by chief justice Earl Burger as the 39th president of the United States while first lady Rosalynn looks on, Washington DC, January 20, 1977. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images) — Democrat Jimmy Carter is sworn in by chief justice Earl Burger as the 39th president of the United States while first lady Rosalynn looks on, Washington DC, January 20, 1977 (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)