Rosalynn Carter, the wife of former President Jimmy Carter, has dementia.
Carter, 95, is living with her husband in Plains, Georgia, where she has been admitted to end-of-life home hospice care, the Carter Center in Atlanta said Tuesday.
Former President Carter, who was elected to one term as president in 1976, is 98.
The Carter family made the announcement in a statement about the former first lady’s health. It said she was “enjoying spring in Plains and visits with loved ones.”
Mrs. Carter has been the nation’s leading mental health advocate for much of her life.” the statement said. “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,” it added.
The Carters have been married 76 years, longer than any first couple. They were married July 7, 1946.
