JIMMY Carter has reached 100 years old, marking the first time in American history a former president has reached the centennial birthday milestone.
Carter has continued defying expectations from when he appeared on the national stage during the 1976 presidential election as a little-known peanut farmer from Georgia during to entering hospice care in February 2023 at age 98.
The 43rd president has outlived the life expectancy for a patient in hospice care, with statistics giving patients less than six months of life, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Carter has been in hospice care for more than 19 months.
James “Chip” Carter, the president’s 74-year-old son, describes his dad as an “early riser” and is typically at his father’s house in Plains, Georgia, at around 5:30 am when it’s his week to look after him.
“I have been doing this for years now,” Chip told the Atlanta Journal-Constituion.
“I am pretty used to the routine of it. He’s my dad.”
Chip, one of Carter’s six around-the-clock caregivers, would make breakfast for his dad, turn on the television, and sit beside him.
An active Carter enjoys talking politics, the upcoming presidential election, and his beloved Atlanta Braves.
The former president’s days usually end at 7:30 pm when he goes to bed.
Carter usually misses the Braves’ games the night before, so Chip often records all the games, and the two watch them together the following day.
“It might take all day to watch a game, Chip told the outlet.
Carter, who lost his wife Rosalynn to dementia in November 2023, still mourns his loved one’s death but keeps his spirits high.
His vote is personal, and it is his final civic duty. Then, I think, he’s ready to be with mom.
James ‘Chip’ Carter.
But there are also difficult days.
“He sleeps a lot,” Becky, Chip’s wife and another of Carter’s caregivers, told AJC.
“When he is awake, sometimes he is conversant, and sometimes he is not.
“Sometimes, he will be in a good mood and wake up with an amazing smile and those blue eyes.
“Then, sometimes, as Chip says, he has those ‘report card’ eyes.
“But other times, he is crystal clear.”
On August 18, Chip took his father to visit his mom’s gravesite on the family’s property at the edge of a pond in front of their home in Plains.
Carter, who is transported around in a wheelchair, sat in front of his wife‘s grave in silence for 20 minutes.
“He could have been having a conversation with mom,” Chip told AJC.
JIMMY’S DINNER PLATE
At least once a week, Jill Stuckey, the superintendent of the National Park Service, will hand deliver a home-cooked breakfast meal for the former president to eat for dinner.
“The president likes breakfast for dinner,” Stuckey told the outlet.
Stuckey will drive to Jimmy Carter Boyhood Farm in Plains and carefully pick up about a dozen eggs from the estate where chickens are raised.
She then takes the eggs to her roommate, Andi Walker, who used to live behind the Carters and begins prepping the former president’s meal.
Walker, who has been cooking for the Carters for over 20 years, will typically cook Carter a few scrambled eggs with grits and sausage or bacon.
The dish is then handed over to Stuckey, who will deliver it to Carter and his son.
The father and son would often watch television again or some more of the Braves’ previous game.
ONE FINAL GOAL
The Carter family has long expressed the former president’s desire to participate in this year’s presidential election.
Jimmy Carter told his son he wants to be around to vote for Vice President resident Kamala Harris.
“He does not believe Donald Trump should be president again,” Chip said.
Carter’s grandson, Jason, told CBS News his grandfather is “very limited” with what he can do, but is “excited” about voting for Harris.
Dr. Thomas Perls, a geriatrician and professor at Boston University Chobanian & Advedisian School of Medicine, said Carter’s goal could be a “potent factor” for his longevity.
“That purpose in life and what he has said about wanting to get at least through the election is really, really inspiring and I think very important for him,” Perls told Today.
“He has amazing resilience that’s carried him to this point.”
“His vote is personal, and it is his final civic duty. Then, I think, he’s ready to be with mom,” Chip told AJC.
Early voting in Georgia begin on October 15.
