Carter family issues statement about health of former First Lady

Abstract

In a statement released May 30 by the family of former President Jimmy Carter, it was shared that former First Lady Rosalynn Carter has dementia. The family's news was distributed through The Carter Center, a not‐for‐profit organization geared toward promoting peace, protecting democracy and fighting disease, founded by Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter. “She continues to live happily at home with her husband, enjoying spring in Plains and visits with loved ones,” the Center release stated. “Mrs. Carter 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. One in 10 older Americans have dementia, a condition that affects overall mental health. 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. We hope sharing our 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 our family, and we are experiencing the joy and the challenges of this journey. We do not expect to comment further and ask for understanding for our family and for everyone across the country serving in a caregiver role.”