At the time Carter entered hospice, it was shared that the decision had been made following a series of short hospital stays. According to hospice experts, this is a common catalyst for patients who get tired of going in and out of hospitals. Rather than providing medical interventions to prolong life, hospice focuses on quality of life and alleviating any discomfort, and providing support for emotional challenges that arise during the process.

“I don’t think we can understate the significance of someone as prominent and well-respected as Jimmy Carter … openly and publicly making that decision,” said Davis Baird, director of government affairs for hospice at the National Association for Home Care & Hospice. “Carter’s decision to publicly disclose his choice to go into hospice has served to highlight the multitude of benefits that patients enjoy,” Baird said.

For a patient to qualify for hospice care, doctors must deem that a person has six months or less to live. That doesn’t mean that person will die within a specific time frame. To qualify, there just needs to be proof that the person’s health has been steadily on the decline.

Regardless of how long patients were in hospice, a recent study found that patients and their families experienced “increased satisfaction and quality of life, improved pain control, reduced physical and emotional distress, and reduced prolonged grief and other emotional distress.” This is due to the fact that, in addition to providing medical care, hospice also addresses the emotional side of dying.

As far as what a typical hospice routine might look like, a primary caregiver, which is usually a family member, spends most of the time administering the patient’s care, then nurses and health aides make regular visits to monitor the person and help address more strenuous needs, like bathing. This could happen in a variety of settings, including at home or in a nursing home.

"Hospice care focuses on the care, comfort and quality of life of a person with a serious illness who is approaching the end of life," the National Institutes of Health explains. The purpose of hospice care is to ensure a higher quality of life after a patient has decided to no longer pursue medical treatment.