In late May 2023, The Carter Center released a statement from the family saying that Rosalynn Carter had been diagnosed with dementia. The statement continued, explaining, “She continues to live happily at home with her husband, enjoying spring in Plains and visits with loved ones.” There weren’t many further details provided in the statement; rather, it highlighted how Rosalynn had championed mental health for years, and that there was hope the statement would continue to open up those conversations.
But later that year, in August, Josh Carter — the couple’s grandson — gave an interview with People Magazine, saying that both of them were enjoying their time together, constantly with their family. Both of them were, for the most part, still very much themselves, and even if Rosalynn was having a hard time with her memory, she was “still able to form new memories.”
That said, Josh also spoke about what it must be like for his grandfather, saying it’s “gotta be hard” for him. Being by the side of the person you love while they lose their memory — the tragedy inherent in that hardly needs to be explained. All the same, Josh made sure to mention that his grandparents had not only lived a full life together, but also, “They are still holding hands … it’s just amazing.”
