Diseases & Conditions
Reframing hospice and palliative care
Sometimes viewed as "giving up," these crucial services instead offer life-affirming benefits during difficult times.
- Reviewed by Toni Golen, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing; Contributor
When Jimmy Carter decided earlier this year to opt for hospice care at his Georgia ranch after a series of hospital stays, the 99-year-old former president made a deliberate choice: no more trips to the ER, and no more aggressive, time-consuming treatments.
Instead, the revered statesman reached for more of the good stuff: time with his cherished wife of 77 years, Rosalynn. Moments relishing their large extended family. And more peanut butter ice cream, his favorite treat.
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About the Author
Maureen Salamon, Executive Editor, Harvard Women's Health Watch
About the Reviewer
Toni Golen, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing; Contributor
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