‘Final chapter’: Heartbreaking update on former US president, Jimmy Carter

The grandson of Jimmy Carter has given an update into the current health of the former US President and his wife, former First Lady, Rosalynn Carter.

Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter is in his “final chapter”, his grandson has revealed. Picture: Getty Images

Former US President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn have entered their “final chapter” Carter’s grandson has revealed.

“It’s clear we’re in the final chapter,” Josh Carter said of his grandparents, the first couple between 1977 and 1981, in an interview published by People magazine.

The 98-year-old Carter entered hospice care in February, seeking “to spend his remaining time at home with his family”.

Former US President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn are both in their “final chapter” their grandson has revealed. Picture: Getty Images/AFP

In May, the Carter family announced that Rosalynn Carter, 96, has dementia.

The couple have been married for 77 years.

“My grandparents have always been the entertainers,” Josh Carter told the magazine.

“But now we’re kind of the ones having to entertain. It’s different, it’s just a different era.”

The Carter Centre announced in February that America’s 39th president had entered hospice care at his home in Plains, Georgia after a series of short hospital stays.

“He’s still fully Jimmy Carter,” Josh Carter said.

In 2013, then US President Barack Obama was pictured with former presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Jimmy Carter. Picture: AFP

“He’s just tired. I mean he’s almost 99 years old, but he fully understands [how many well wishes he’s received] and has felt the love.”

Josh Carter also revealed that his grandparents “still hold hands” as Rosalynn deals with her dementia diagnosis.

“She still knows who we are, for the most part — that we are family,” Josh Carter said.

He added it’s “gotta be hard” for his grandfather to watch Rosalynn’s memory decline but “they’ve experienced everything that you can together. I think the beautiful thing is that they are still together”.

Joe Biden with Jimmy Carter. Picture: UPI Photo/Kevin Dietsch

“My grandmother is still able to form new memories,” he added.

According to the New York Post, the couple, who share four children, 12 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren, is cared for by a family member or caregiver throughout the day.

The Carters are still celebrating milestones as last month the pair celebrated their 77th wedding anniversary and the former first lady celebrated her 96th birthday at home earlier this week.

Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter have been married for 77 years. Picture: AP

The entire Carter family is preparing for anything that may come in the future.

“Odds are I’m gonna lose my grandfather before my grandmother,” Josh Carter said. “He’s in hospice care and she’s not, and it’s just math.”

“It’s clear we’re in the final chapter.”

Carter, the longest-living former US president, served a single term in the White House from 1976 to 1981 after he served as Georgia’s Governor from 1971 to 1975 and a state senator.

He was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma, an aggressive form of skin cancer, in August 2015 and was declared cancer-free later that year.

Carter has fallen at his home several times and suffered a broken hip, a pelvic fracture, a black eye, and needed surgery to relieve pressure on his brain in 2019.

– with the New York Post

Originally published as ‘Final chapter’: Heartbreaking update on former US president, Jimmy Carter