August 18, 1927 – November 19, 2023

Remembering Our Founder

Reflecting on former First Lady Rosalynn Carter’s visionary leadership, below is a letter written in 2019 about her commitment to caregiving.

A Letter from Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter

On good days, caregiving brings joy and fulfillment. We also know Caregiving can be challenging. It requires dedication, determination, and time.

“More than 53 million Americans provide care for adults and children who cannot care for themselves. Whether helping an aging parent, a seriously ill spouse or child or some other special person in need, those giving care often do so at a great personal sacrifice of time, energy and income.

I know firsthand the demands of caregiving. When I was 12 years old my father became terminally ill with leukemia. I was one of four children and as the oldest and a daughter, my 34-year-old mother depended on me. 

Since returning home from the White House, we have supported many members of Jimmy’s family who have died of cancer, and I helped care for my mother until she died in 2000 at the age of 94. As I’ve traveled this country speaking about caregiving, person after person has stepped forward to tell me their own stories. So many people giving care to their loved ones feel isolated, inadequate, despairing.

At a time when more and more Americans are called on to give care, it is critically important that we do all we can to support caregivers.”

A Champion of Caregivers

A cause close to Rosalynn Carter’s heart is caregiving. Over the course of her life, Mrs. Carter has had her own caregiving experiences and has heard from countless people around the world about theirs.

Helping Yourself Help Others

Rosalynn Carter with Susan K Golant

With a new foreword from Jennifer Olsen and Paurvi Bhatt

We can’t do this work without the support of caregiver champions like you.

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