Jimmy Carter's Youngest Son, Jeff, Has Been Quietly Living with Parkinson's Disease (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Jeff Carter, the youngest ofJimmyandRosalynn Carter’s three sons, has been quietly navigating life with Parkinson’s disease.

Jeff, 72, has known about his diagnosis for some time, his son Josh tells PEOPLE, but has refrained from making public statements.

Jeff moved into a new home nearly a decade ago, and made sure it was wheelchair-accessible in case he ever needed to use one. It’s the kind of foresight that comes with being part of a family that has decades of experience with caregiving.

“We’re going into this with eyes wide open knowing that we’re going to have more and more responsibilities going on, and it’s just got to be a part of life,” Josh says.

Jimmy, Rosalynn and Jeff Carter at the 1976 Democratic National Convention.Bettmann/Getty

Bettmann/Getty

Jeff — whose wife, Annette Davis Carter,died in 2021— has ample experience acting as a caregiver for loved ones, as have many people in the Carter family.

His mother-in-law, Dorothy Davis, previously battled severe memory loss after a stroke, leading the whole family to step in as caregivers. His grandson, Jonathan — Josh’s youngest son — was diagnosed with a rare and chronic intestinal disorder as an infant that put financial and emotional strain on the family. And when Jeff’s parents, Jimmy and Rosalynn, entered hospice care in 2023, he and his siblings agreed that a loved one would stay with the former first couple at all times.

The Carter family visits with one another. From left to right: Jimmy, Charlie, Jonathan, Rosalynn, Josh, Jeff and Sarah Carter.Melissa Montgomery

Melissa Montgomery

Josh revealed his father’s diagnosis during a panel discussion with PEOPLE editor-in-chief Wendy Naugle at the United Nations' International Day of Older Persons celebration on Monday, Oct. 7, saying that though Jeff has continued showing support for Jimmymore than a year and a half into the former president’s hospice care, he has been limited in his ability to visit due to his own medical planning.

Jeff Carter wipes tears from his eyes as he leaves the funeral for his mother, Rosalynn Carter, on Nov. 29, 2023.Alex Brandon - Pool/Getty

Alex Brandon - Pool/Getty

Josh sat down with PEOPLE for a one-on-one conversation moments after the event, where he offered more context on his father’s experience.

“He’s not very open about it because he doesn’t want to be the face of anything,” Josh says. “It’s just, Parkinson’s sucks. It’s a hard disease. It’s a hard diagnosis.”

Rosalynn, Jimmy and Jeff Carter speak with the then-Lowe’s CEO Robert Niblock at a Habitat for Humanity worksite.R. Diamond/WireImage

R. Diamond/WireImage

Jeff has been able to manage his symptoms with deep brain stimulation therapy, which required getting two battery-powered electrodes surgically implanted in specific areas of his brain that manage movement. The electrodes come with a remote control.

“He can literally control his brain with his iPhone, which is wild,” Josh explains. “Without his therapy, he’s basically not able to do anything. And then when he turns his therapy back on with his phone, then he can stand up, he can walk around, he can hold a drink without spilling it, he can eat, he can communicate. It’s a night and day shift.”

The technology has allowed Jeff to have more “high quality” time with family. “He’s able to play with my kids, he’s able to play with his other grandkids,” Josh says. “So, it’s really fortunate to be in this wave of technology.”

Jeff had three sons with Annette — Josh, Jeremy and James — and he now has four grandchildren. His middle son, Jeremy,died suddenlyin 2015 at the age of 28.

Josh, Sarah, Charlie and Jonathan Carter.Josh Carter

Josh Carter

Josh, now a spokesperson for theRosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers, has spoken openly about his family’s health challenges and the toll that can come with taking care of a loved one. He is carrying on the legacy of his late grandmother, Rosalynn, who dedicated a large portion of her career advocating for family caregivers to have more support.

After Josh’s youngest son was diagnosed with very early onset inflammatory bowel disease — a potentially fatal condition that is now under control — he and his wife, Sarah, founded The VEO-IBD Foundation, “the first and only organization dedicated to parents and caregivers of children that have this disease.”

source: people.com