RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif., Jan. 20 (UPI) -- Former U.S. President Gerald Ford has yet to be discharged from a Southern California hospital, two days after officials said he would be allowed to leave.
Ford, 92, has been receiving treatment for pneumonia since Saturday, when he was admitted to Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage. He had been receiving intravenous antibiotics, his chief of staff, Penny Circle, said Monday.
"He continues to respond to treatments and is improving every day," said Circle in a news release Friday afternoon. "He is currently enjoying spending his time out of bed, conversing with Mrs. (Betty) Ford and eating well."
Ford had been expected to return to his Rancho Mirage home Thursday. Doctors evaluated his condition Thursday and Friday to determine whether he could leave, but decided he should remain in the hospital, the Desert Sun newspaper reported.
Ford -- the oldest living former president -- was hospitalized briefly in December for unspecified tests, when his spokeswoman said he was in good health for his age. He was hospitalized in 2003 after suffering a dizzy spell while playing golf in 96-degree heat, and suffered a mild stroke during the 2000 Republican National Convention.
