Yahoo Sports Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter Died Shortly After Entering Hospice Care
Update, 11/19/23: Rosalynn Carter has passed away at age 96, the Carter Center announced. On Friday, they announced she entered hospice care at home. "As long as Rosalynn was in the world, I always knew somebody loved and supported me," President Carter said.
In May, the Carter family confirmed the former first lady had dementia."The Carter family is sharing that former First Lady Rosalynn Carter has dementia. She continues to live happily at home with her husband, enjoying spring in Plains and visits with loved ones," read the statement shared on the Carter Center's website.
Rosalynn, 95, lives in Plains, Georgia with her husband, former president Jimmy Carter, 98. In February, Jimmy also entered hospice care, but remains in good spirits, according to his grandson. Jason also said in the statement that the former president and first lady are "spending time with one another and their family."
The Carter family noted that Rosalynn "has been the nation’s leading mental health advocate for much of her life. First in the Georgia Governor’s Mansion, then in the White House, and later at The Carter Center, she urged improved access to care and decreased stigma about issues surrounding mental health." They also shared that one in 10 older Americans have dementia, and that there's stigma around getting support. "We recognize, as she did more than half a century ago, that stigma is often a barrier that keeps individuals and their families from seeking and getting much-needed support," the Carter family wrote. "We hope sharing our family's news will increase important conversations at kitchen tables and in doctor’s offices around the country."
The statement ended, "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 our family, and we are experiencing the joy and the challenges of this journey."
Just last week, Rosalynn and Jimmy's grandson Jason Carter shared of his grandparents, "Their faith is really grounding in this moment. In that way, it’s as good as it can be." The Carter family said they do not expect to comment further on Rosalynn's health.
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