The former first lady of the United States Rosalynn Carter, wife of former President Jimmy Carter (1977-1981), died this Sunday at the age of 96, the Carter Center Foundation reported.

“Our co-founder, former first lady of the United States Rosalynn Carter, died this afternoon in Plains, Georgia,” the Carter Center reported on X (formerly Twitter).

Last Friday, Rosalynn Carter had begun receiving palliative care at home, where her husband also receives it.

On February 18, it was learned that Jimmy Carter, 99, had begun palliative care at home instead of medical interventions after a series of hospital admissions.

“Rosalynn was my partner in everything I achieved,” the former president said in a statement about his wife, who was diagnosed with dementia last year.

“She gave me wise guidance and encouragement when I needed it. “As long as Rosalynn was in the world, I always knew someone loved me and supported me,” Carter added.

In an interview in early September, Jason Carter, the Carters' grandson, acknowledged that the couple was “reaching the end” but remained together and in love.

The former first lady is survived by her children Jack, Chip, Jeff and Amy, 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.. A grandson died in 2015.

“She died peacefully, with her family at her side,” said the foundation, which described her as “a passionate advocate for mental health, care and women's rights.”

“Carter was married for 77 years to Jimmy Carter, the 39th president of the United States and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002,” the Carter Center recalled.

“In addition to being a loving mother and an extraordinary first lady, my mother was a great humanitarian in her own right,” said Chip Carter.

As first lady, she urged to improve access to care and reduce stigma about problems related to mental health, the Carter family recently noted, recalling that one in 10 older Americans has dementia.

As founder of the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers, the former first lady often said that there are four types of people in this world: those who have been caregivers, those who are currently caregivers, those who will be caregivers in the future, and those who will need care.