Jimmy Carter is in the “final chapter” of his life as his grandson says the 98-year-old former president is “just tired” in a heartbreaking update.
In February, it was announced by the Carter Center the 39th president, who served in the White House from 1977-1981, had decided to enter hospice care at his home in Plains, Georgia after a number of short stays in the hospital.
Josh Carter – the grandson of the longest-living former president – has now shared a heartbreaking update, telling PEOPLE in an interview: “He’s still fully Jimmy Carter.
“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 added: “Odds are I’m gonna lose my grandfather before my grandmother. He’s in hospice care and she’s not, and it’s just math. It’s clear we’re in the final chapter.”
In May, Jimmy Carter’s wife Rosalynn Carter was diagnosed with dementia – three months after her husband entered end-of-life care.
The couple’s grandson told the outlet: “She still knows who we are, for the most part — that we are family.”
He admitted it’s “gotta be hard” for his grandfather to watch the memory of his wife of 77 years fade.
But Josh Carter added: “They’ve experienced everything that you can together. I think the beautiful thing is that they are still together.
“My grandmother is still able to form new memories,” adding a good night’s sleep helps her fight the symptoms of dementia.
Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter married in 1946 and share four children, 12 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren.
The couple are now routinely accompanied by a family member or caregiver throughout every day.
Despite entering the “final chapter” of their lives, the Carters are still able to celebrate milestones.
Last month, they celebrated their 477th wedding anniversary, and last week the former First Lady celebrated her 96th birthday at home.
But Josh Carter said his grandparents have become quieter, meaning the rest of the family are left to entertain the former first couple/
He told PEOPLE: “My grandparents have always been the entertainers. But now we’re kind of the ones having to entertain. It’s different, it’s just a different era.”
Jimmy Carter is the longest-living former president and served a single term in the White House after serving as Georgia’s Governor from 1971 to 1975 and a state senator in The Peach State.
In August 2015, the 98-year-old was diagnosed with metastatic melanoma – an aggressive form of skin cancer – but it was announced later that year he had successfully the killer illness.
Carter has also fallen at his home on several occasions and in 2019 suffered a broken hip, pelvic fracture, and black eye, and needed surgery to relieve pressure on his brain.
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