Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter has been diagnosed with dementia

PLAINS, Georgia (WRBL) – Former first lady Rosalynn Carter suffers from dementia, according to a statement released May 30 by the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers.

The family say Rosalynn Carter continues to live happily at home with her husband Jimmy Carter, who was admitted to a hospice on February 18 this year.

You can read the family’s full statement below:

“The Carter family announces that former first lady Rosalynn Carter has dementia. She continues to live happily at home with her husband, enjoying the springtime in Plains and visiting loved ones.

Ms. 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 called for increased access to health care and a reduction in the stigma of mental health-related issues. One in ten older Americans has 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 prevents individuals and their families from seeking and receiving much-needed support. We hope sharing the news of our family sparks important conversations at kitchen tables and in doctor’s offices across the country.

As the founder of the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers, Ms. Carter often observed that there are only four types 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 care is evident in our family and we experience both the joy and the challenges of this journey. We do not expect any further comments and ask for the understanding of our family and all those working as carers across the country.”