Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter is suffering from dementia. The Carter Center broke the news by releasing a statement Tuesday announcing that Jimmy Carter's wife is at her home in Plains, Ga., accompanying her husband during his final days:
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.
Rosalynn Carter founded The Carter Center in 1982 with her husband, after he finished his presidential term. One of the goals of the non-profit association was to raise awareness about mental health issues, one of the most important causes to Rosalynn Carter:
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.
