Rosalynn Carter’s health: Her battle with dementia during her death at 96

• The Carter Center announced that Rosalynn Carter had been diagnosed with dementia in a statement dated May 30, 2023.
• It is unclear when Carter was diagnosed with dementia.
• The center announced that Carter was visiting loved ones during his battle with dementia.
• In November 2023, it was announced that she died two days after entering hospice care alongside her husband, Jimmy Carter.

former first lady Rosalynn Carter He died at his home in Plains, Georgia, at age 96, on Nov. 19, according to the Carter Center. Just two days earlier he had entered palliative care, six months after entering palliative care Announced that she was diagnosed with dementia on Tuesday, May 30, 2023. The Carter Center revealed that the former first lady’s diagnosis also came just three months after that of her husband, the former president Jimmy Carter, 99 years old, was in palliative care. The Carter Center also revealed that the family hoped that sharing Carter’s diagnosis would allow families to have “important conversations” with both loved ones and doctors.

While the Carter Center hasn’t shared many details about the former first lady’s diagnosis or how long she’s been battling dementia, many wished her well on social media at the time of the announcement. “We look forward to commenting further and asking for understanding for our family and all those across the country who serve as healthcare workers,” the Carter Center said in a statement.

On November 17, 2023, it became known that she had entered palliative care with her husband in their home in Georgia and two days later her death was announced, which occurred while surrounded by her family.

Learn more about Carter’s diagnosis and current health situation here.

Rosalynn Carter is diagnosed with dementia

Rosalynn’s family shared a statement explaining that the Carter Center diagnosed her with dementia, but said she seemed in good spirits. “The Carter family shares that former first lady Rosalynn Carter suffers from dementia,” they said.

The center then spoke about the former first lady’s philosophy on care. “As founder of the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers, Mrs. Carter often observed 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 care is clear in our family and we are experiencing the joy and challenges of this journey,” she said.

What is dementia?

Dementia is a generalized term for memory loss, but many different diseases can cause it, most commonly Alzheimer’s disease, according to the National Institute on Aging. The Carter Center has not disclosed what type of dementia the first lady has been diagnosed with. The forms of dementia that people experience can progress over time, starting with forgetfulness, like short-term memory, but can lead to people becoming more dependent on others to keep up with different functions of life. Alzheimer’s Association.

Dementia is caused by damage to brain cells and neurons that can make thinking difficult. Symptoms vary from case to case, but include memory loss, confusion, loss of familiar areas, repetition of phrases and questions, impulsive actions, and more.

How long has Carter been ill?

It’s unclear how long Carter had been battling dementia, but the family released a statement revealing he was diagnosed on May 30, 2023. In addition to dementia, Carter had other health issues throughout his life. In April 1977, during her husband’s presidency, she had a non-malignant breast tumor removed. The New York Times. She also underwent an hour-long gynecological procedure in August 1977. Not many details were shared, but it was said to be a “routine” surgery and a “private matter,” according to The Washington Post.

What are the details about Carter’s death?

As the Carter Center revealed in its statement, Rosalynn “continued to live happily at home with her husband, enjoying spring in Plains, and visiting loved ones” before she died. News of the former first lady’s diagnosis came months after the Carter Center revealed that her husband Jimmy Carter began receiving palliative care on February 18, 2023. “After a series of brief hospital stays, the former president of the United United Jimmy Carter today decided to spend his life staying at home with his family and receiving palliative care instead of further medical interventions,” they said in a statement.

As the statement about Rosalynn continued, the Carter Center highlighted the former first lady’s legacy as a mental health advocate and hoped that sharing her diagnosis would help inspire others who may be struggling. “We recognize, as you did more than half a century ago, that stigma is often a barrier that prevents people and their families from seeking and obtaining the support they so desperately need. “We hope that sharing news about our family can increase important conversations at kitchen tables and in doctors’ offices across the country,” she said.

On November 17, 2023, the Carter Center released a statement on social media announcing that Rosalynn had entered hospice care. “On behalf of Jason Carter, grandson of President and Mrs. Carter: Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter has been placed in hospice care at home. “She and President Carter spend time together and with their family,” she read in the Twitter statement. “The Carter family continues to ask for privacy and remains grateful for the outpouring of love and support.”

On November 19, 2023, the family announced that Rosalynn had died at the age of 96, and both her husband and son Chip gave emotional statements. “Rosalynn has been my equal partner in everything I have accomplished,” President Carter said, shared by the Carter Center. “She gave me wise guidance and encouragement when I needed it. “As long as Rosalynn existed, I always knew someone loved and supported me.”

“In addition to being a loving mother and an extraordinary first lady, my mother was a great humanitarian in her own right,” her son Chip said in a statement. “Her life of service and compassion was an example to all Americans. She will be greatly missed not only by our family, but also by many people who today enjoy better mental health care and access to treatment resources.”