Jimmy Carter’s Former US First Lady Rosalynn Carter Diagnosed with Dementia

Rosalynn Carter was a US president’s wife. She is 95. She has dementia. Dementia makes you forget and think badly. Rosalynn and her family need time alone. But Rosalynn still likes to help and have fun.

What is dementia?

Dementia is when you lose your memory, words and thinking. It is many sicknesses. The most common one is Alzheimer’s disease.

How do you know if you have dementia?

Dementia can make you:

· Forget

· Think and solve badly

· Talk badly

· Act differently

· Do things badly

Why do people get dementia?

We do not know why. But some things can make it more likely, like:

· Being old

· Having family with dementia

· Hitting your head

· Having other sicknesses

· Smoking or drinking a lot

How do you treat dementia?

There is no medicine to stop dementia. But there are things that can help, like:

· Pills

· Talking to someone

· Going to a group

How do you look after someone with dementia?

It can be hard, but you are not alone. There are people who can help. Some tips are:

Be nice and calm.

Make their home safe and cozy.

Help them do things.

Help them stay active and happy.

Get help from family and friends.

Dementia is a big problem, but your life is not over. You can still have a good life. You can still love and be loved. You can still do things that make you happy.

Rosalynn Carter cares about mental health. She started a group to help people with Alzheimer’s or other dementias.

The Alzheimer’s Association can help you learn more about dementia. Go to their website: https://www.alz.org/

The National Institute on Aging also has information about dementia. Go to their website: https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/topics/dementia

If you or someone you know has dementia, talk to your doctor or a group.