Former President Jimmy Carter's niece struck an optimistic tone about his condition following the announcement he entered hospice care earlier this month.

Since entering hospice care, the former president has been eating and has been talkative, his niece Leanne Smith said. Hospice care is a type of treatment aimed at reducing pain and elevating comfort levels in patients believed to be nearing the end of their life.

FORMER PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER TO 'SPEND HIS REMAINING TIME' IN HOSPICE CARE

"He had a good day," Smith told Fox News on Sunday. "In fact, about 30 minutes ago, I got a text. They knew I made broccoli and cheese soup, so before I came to meet with you, I dropped broccoli and cheese soup off to be delivered to the house because he's eating and talking … so, it is amazing. He's still got some time in him. I just feel like it."

Carter, 98, is the oldest living former president, a role he served from 1977 to 1981 when he was succeeded by former President Ronald Reagan.

Back in 2015, Carter was diagnosed with cancer and has since undergone surgery aimed at treating it. By December 2015, Carter indicated that he was free of cancer.

Earlier this month, the Carter Center revealed that the former president opted to enroll in hospice care rather than receive additional medical intervention. The full extent of his ailments is not entirely clear.

“After a series of short hospital stays, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter today decided to spend his remaining time at home with his family and receive hospice care instead of additional medical intervention,” the center said in a statement.

“He has the full support of his family and his medical team. The Carter family asks for privacy during this time and is grateful for the concern shown by his many admirers."

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Carter was the 39th president of the United States. In the time since his White House departure, he has helped build houses across the world, taught Sunday school, and occasionally waded into international issues, including by negotiating with North Korea in the 1990s over its alleged nuclear weapons program.