Georgia in September probably isn’t the first place you would plan to spend your vacation.

But I was on a pilgrimage, what I figured would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience of seeing former U.S. president Jimmy Carter teach Sunday School.

Emerance Maschmeyer turned in 34 saves on 35 shots on goal and the Ottawa Charge held off the New York Sirens 3-1 on Sunday for their second win in six games.

Some quotations from Jimmy Carter.

We have a tendency to exalt ourselves and to dwell on the weaknesses and mistakes of others. I have come to realize that in every person there is something fine and pure and noble, along with a desire for self-fulfillment. Political and religious leaders must attempt to provide a society within which these human attributes can be nurtured and enhanced. — from 1975 book “Why Not the Best?”

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Our government can express the highest common ideals of human beings — if we demand of government true standards of excellence. At this Bicentennial time of introspection and concern, we must demand such standards. — “Why Not the Best?”

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I am a Southerner and an American, I am a farmer, an engineer, a father and husband, a Christian, a politician and former governor, a planner, a businessman, a nuclear physicist, a naval officer, a canoeist, and among other things a lover of Bob Dylan’s songs and Dylan Thomas’s poetry. — “Why Not the Best?”

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Christ said, “I tell you that anyone who looks on a woman with lust has in his heart already committed adultery.” I’ve looked on a lot of women with lust. I’ve committed adultery in my heart many times. This is something that God recognizes I will do — and I have done it — and God forgives me for it. But that doesn’t mean that I condemn someone who not only looks on a woman with lust but who leaves his wife and shacks up with somebody out of wedlock. — Interview, November 1976 Playboy.

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This inauguration ceremony marks a new beginning, a new dedication within our Government, and a new spirit among us all. A President may sense and proclaim that new spirit, but only a people can provide it. — Inaugural address, January 1977.

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It’s clear that the true problems of our nation are much deeper — deeper than gasoline lines or energy shortages, deeper even than inflation and recession. … All the legislation in the world can’t fix what’s wrong with America. … It is a crisis of confidence. — So-called “malaise” speech, July 1979.

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But we know that democracy is always an unfinished creation. Each generation must renew its foundations. Each generation must rediscover the meaning of this hallowed vision in the light of its own modern challenges. For this generation, ours, life is nuclear survival; liberty is human rights; the pursuit of happiness is a planet whose resources are devoted to the physical and spiritual nourishment of its inhabitants. — Farewell Address, January 1981.

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We appreciate the past. We are grateful for the present and we’re looking forward to the future with great anticipation and commitment. — October 1986, at the dedication of the Carter Presidential Library and Museum.

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War may sometimes be a necessary evil. But no matter how necessary, it is always an evil, never a good. We will not learn to live together in peace by killing each other’s children. — December 2002, Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech.

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Fundamentalists have become increasingly influential in both religion and government, and have managed to change the nuances and subtleties of historic debate into black-and-white rigidities and the personal derogation of those who dare to disagree. … The influence of these various trends poses a threat to many of our nation’s historic customs and moral commitments, both in government and in houses of worship. — From 2005 book “Our Endangered Values.”

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I think that this breakthrough by Barack Obama has been remarkable. When he made his speech (on race) a few months ago in Philadelphia, I wept. I sat in front of the television and cried, because I saw that as the most enlightening and transforming analysis of racism and a potential end of it that I ever saw in my life. — August 2008, commenting on then-Sen. Barack Obama’s candidacy.

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I think it’s based on racism. There is an inherent feeling among many in this country that an African-American should not be president. … No matter who he is or how much we disagree with his policies, the president should be treated with respect. — September 2009, reacting to Rep. Joe Wilson’s shout of “You lie!” during a speech to Congress by President Barack Obama.

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I’m still determined to outlive the last guinea worm. — 2010, on The Carter Center’s work to eradicate guinea worm disease.

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You know how much I raised to run against Gerald Ford? Zero. You know how much I raised to run against Ronald Reagan? Zero. You know how much will be raised this year by all presidential, Senate and House campaigns? $6 billion. That’s 6,000 millions. — September 2012, reacting to the 2010 “Citizens United” U.S. Supreme Court decision permitting unlimited third-party political spending.

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I have become convinced that the most serious and unaddressed worldwide challenge is the deprivation and abuse of women and girls, largely caused by a false interpretation of carefully selected religious texts and a growing tolerance of violence and warfare, unfortunately following the example set during my lifetime by the United States. — From 2014 book “A Call to Action.”

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I don’t think there’s any doubt now that the NSA or other agencies monitor or record almost every telephone call made in the United States, including cellphones, and I presume email as well. We’ve gone a long way down the road of violating Americans’ basic civil rights, as far as privacy is concerned. — March 2014, commenting on U.S. intelligence monitoring after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks

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We accept self-congratulations about the wonderful 50th anniversary – which is wonderful – but we feel like Lyndon Johnson did it and we don’t have to do anything anymore. — April 2014, commenting on racial inequality during a celebration of the Civil Rights Act’s 40th anniversary.

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I had a very challenging question at Emory (University) the other night: “How would you describe the United States of America today in one word?” And I didn’t know what to say for a few moments, but I finally said, “Searching.” I think the country in which we live is still searching for what it ought to be, and what it can be, and I’m not sure we’re making much progress right at this moment. — October 2014 during a celebration of his 90th birthday.

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The life we have now is the best of all. We have an expanding and harmonious family, a rich life in our church and the Plains community, and a diversity of projects at The Carter Center that is adventurous and exciting. Rosalynn and I have visited more than 145 countries, and both of us are as active as we have ever been. We are blessed with good health and look to the future with eagerness and confidence, but are prepared for inevitable adversity when it comes. — From 2015 book, “A Full Life.”

The Associated Press

This is a collection of photos chosen by AP photo editors.

The Associated Press

Jimmy Carter, the Georgia peanut farmer who was elected as the 39th U.S. president and later earned a Nobel Peace Prize as a global champion of human rights, has died.

Jimmy Carter, the longest-living former president of the United States, has died at 100 years old at his home in Georgia, after nearly two years of receiving hospice care.

As we look back on his life’s contributions, we can see how the values he embodied in his international career are reflected in his end-of-life decisions. These decisions offer lessons for all Americans and Canadians.

Carter and his wife Rosalynn, who died in November 2023, each chose hospice care at the end of their lives.

Both hospice care and palliative care focus on patient comfort and quality of life for people with serious illnesses, but those receiving hospice care are no longer seeking treatment to cure their condition. Palliative care patients may or may not also be pursuing treatment for their illness.

Living our values

Canada faces a significant gap regarding palliative care. Eighty-five per cent of Canadians support federal standards on palliative care and up to 89 per cent of Canadians who die could benefit from it.

However, only 15 per cent of Canadians receive publicly funded palliative home care in their last year of life. Only 15 per cent have early access to palliative care in the community.

Looking at what the Carters experienced during the former president’s final months can help Canadians better understand the importance of closing this gap.

It is a moment to reflect on how the values we embody throughout our lives are equally important when it comes to how we choose to define our end-of-life decisions.

Carter in Canada

Carter has been hailed as a hero in Canada for his role in helping to contain the world’s first nuclear accident: the 1952 reactor meltdown in Chalk River, Ont. As a young naval officer, Carter was part of a team of Americans who were asked to help manage the response. He and others used a replica reactor to practice disassembling parts of the real reactor in shifts of just 90 seconds to try to limit radiation exposure.

Carter and his wife Rosalynn are also celebrated by Canadians as key allies of Habitat for Humanity. Habitat has built more than 3,800 homes for hard-working, low-income Canadians in every province and territory for nearly 40 years.

Wage peace, fight disease, build hope

After leaving the White House in 1979, Carter dedicated his life to building a more peaceful and healthy planet. The Carter Center’s three-fold mission is to “Wage Peace. Fight Disease. Build Hope.”

Just as these three goals have transformed the lives of millions around the world, they have equal importance when applied to the context of personal end-of-life choices.

The Carters are widely praised for their courage, from tackling deadly and overlooked tropical diseases to confronting dictators.

The conversations that are a part of hospice care are also courageous and can ultimately bring inner peace.

These include choices like preferences for medical interventions, cultural or religious views on death, the family’s involvement in caregiving, financial considerations, and conversations with children or grandchildren. This is often a time when unresolved issues in relationships can be addressed.

Healing family relationships is often a great source of satisfaction for people nearing end of life. Seeking assistance to have these brave conversations can bring peace. It can also be a time to deepen and savour existing relationships and, just as Carter’s family did, leave a legacy of memories through time spent together.

End-of-life decisions

Palliative care is centred on alleviating the challenges posed by life-threatening illnesses for both patients and their families, particularly when the emphasis shifts from seeking a cure or disease treatment. The focus lies on addressing the holistic well-being of the individual and their family, encompassing physical, emotional, social and spiritual support.

These are critically important issues in Canada, where Canadians are living longer but not always living better as rates of chronic conditions, degenerative diseases and cancer continue to increase.

Fighting for quality of life is not a solo battle. Choosing palliative care includes the family as part of the unit of care and encourages courageous conversations about what matters most to both the patient and family.

Deciding on the preferred location for receiving care holds particular significance. It stands out as one of the most important discussions families must engage in, frequently revealing unexpected differences in preferences among family members.

Patients who fear becoming burdens to their families are often surprised by the eagerness of their loved ones to offer this kind of support through their final days.

In other cases, this conversation reveals the necessity of seeking other care options. Hashing this out early means patients and families can make plans that work for all involved.

Care and hope

Hope does not end when entering hospice care. Indeed, hope has an important place in end-of-life planning. Palliative care can be a very hopeful time for both the patient and family as they focus on immediate goals and wishes.

Just as the Carters wove these threads together in their global efforts to foster better, more peaceful lives, spirituality and religion also play an important role in hope and finding meaning of death. Patients and families may redefine hope through the end-of-life process.

Throughout various stages, individuals might discover that the concept of hope takes on diverse meanings. It could manifest as a persistent desire for a cure or survival until a specific milestone, such as a wedding or birth. Alternatively, hope may be centred around a death that aligns with the patient’s wishes and preferences.

Canada’s path to accessible palliative care

Carter was a supporter of Canada’s health-care system and actively promoted the idea of implementing a comparable approach in the United States throughout his life.

In Canada, funding and policies surrounding palliative care services vary by province and include home care programs, hospices, drug/benefit programs and other services. Some programs, such as Compassionate Care Benefit, are national in scope.

Just as Carter did, educating ourselves about available choices and summoning the courage to confront end-of-life considerations may guide us toward receiving care that preserves hope and dignity until the very end of our lives.

Rachelle Rebman RN, BSN, MPH, CHPCN(C) co-authored this article. Rebman has provided end-of-life and oncology care for nearly two decades, including offering community-based palliative care on Nova Scotia’s South Shore for eight years, and now in Victoria, B.C.

Gabrielle Bardall has previously consulted for the Carter Center.