The Carter Family Shares Heartbreaking Health Update

Earlier on May 30, the Carter family shared an update regarding the former first lady's health.

Rosalynn Carter, the wife of former president Jimmy Carter, has been diagnosed with dementia, an umbrella term for the wide range of degenerative neurological conditions that can cause symptoms like memory loss, confusion, and executive impairment.

Despite the diagnosis, it seems that Rosalynn, 95, and her loved ones remain in good spirits, as they shared in a statement: "She continues to live happily at home with her husband, enjoying spring in Plains and visits with loved ones."

The family's statement continued, citing recent statistics surrounding the prevalence of the disease and its impacts on mental health, noting the former first lady spent much of her career working to de-stigmatize access to mental health resources. "One in 10 older Americans have dementia, a condition that affects overall mental health," the missive read. "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 also asked the public to respect the family's request for privacy as they support Carter and her former Georgia governor husband, 98, who has been receiving hospice care since February.

"As the founder of the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers, Mrs. Carter often noted 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 note added. "The universality of caregiving is clear in our family, and we are experiencing the joy and the challenges of this journey."

"We do not expect to comment further and ask for understanding for our family and for everyone across the country serving in a caregiver role," the statement concluded.

The Carters, who wed in 1946 and later welcomed four children, founded The Carter Center to further public health initiatives and human rights efforts in 1982, shortly after the 39^th president lost his re-election bid to Ronald Reagan. In the decades since, The Carter Center has supported a vast number of philanthropic projects like building houses with Habitat for Humanity.