Rosalynn Carter, the wife of former US President Jimmy Carter, has been diagnosed with dementia. The announcement comes three months after her husband entered hospice care at their home in Georgia. The Carter Center stated that the 95-year-old former first lady is still living happily with her husband and enjoying spring and visits with loved ones. Rosalynn has been married to Jimmy Carter for 76 years, and they have been together at home since February, when he announced he would forgo further medical intervention after a series of hospital stays. The Carter Center did not provide any further details about her condition.
Mrs. Carter has been a leading mental health advocate for much of her life, and she urged improved access to care and decreased stigma about issues surrounding mental health. The Carter Center hopes that sharing their family’s news will increase important conversations at kitchen tables and in doctor’s offices around the country. As the founder of the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers, Mrs. Carter often noted that there are only four kinds of people in this world: those who have been caregivers; those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers, and those who will need caregivers. The universality of caregiving is clear in their family, and they are experiencing the joy and the challenges of this journey.
Jimmy and Rosalynn have shared a lifetime together, and their romance has stood the test of time, as well as the challenges of Navy deployments, a presidential campaign, and his subsequent time in office. They have pursued humanitarian projects together, helping construct or renovate more than 4,300 affordable homes across the world – one of the greatest charitable achievements of any past president. The couple first dated in 1945, and they were married just one year later. Jimmy described marrying Rosalynn as the « best thing I ever did, » and their partnership as the « pinnacle » of his life.
Keywords: Rosalynn Carter, Jimmy Carter, dementia, mental health, caregiving, humanitarian projects.