Former first lady Rosalynn Carter, 96, entered hospice care at her Plains, Georgia, home on Friday, her grandson Jason Carter announced.
In an update from Carter’s grandson Jason, Chair of the Carter Center, he states that, “[Rosalynn] and President Carter are spending time with each other and their family. The Carter family continues to ask for privacy and remains grateful for the outpouring of love and support.”
Six months ago the Carter family revealed that Rosalynn had been diagnosed with dementia, only a few months after former President Jimmy Carter terminated his own medical intervention so that he could return home to be with loved ones.
In late May, in the process of announcing the diagnosis, Rosalynn’s family praised the former first lady for her long-standing work, stating, “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.”
Another grandson, Josh, added that even amid his grandparents’ health challenges, the couple continue to express love toward one another. “I think the beautiful thing is that they are still together,” he said. “And they’re not just under the same roof. They are still holding hands … it’s just amazing.”
On Feb. 18, before Rosalynn had been diagnosed with dementia, the Carter family announced that President Carter — the longest-living president of the United States — had entered hospice care for unspecified health issues.
