Former first lady Rosalynn Carter marks her 96th birthday with screening of ‘Unconditional’

Rosalynn Carter, the former first lady, celebrates her 96th birthday on Friday, August 18th,. To commemorate this occasion, the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers will be presenting a movie that delves into the emotional effects experienced by family members who provide care for their loved ones. 

To honor this special occasion, the Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers, which was established 35 years ago, is organizing a film screening in Plains, Georgia – the hometown of the Carters. The screening will take place on Friday evening.

The featured film, titled "Unconditional," directed by the acclaimed filmmaker Richard Lui, will be screened at Plains High School at 6:30 p.m. This screening is open to the public and entry is free. Following the film, there will be an engaging Q&A session, featuring RCI ambassador Paurvi Bhatt. Paurvi Bhatt is also the co-author of the new foreword in the re-released edition of Mrs. Carter’s book, "Helping Yourself Help Others."

According to Institute CEO Jennifer Olsen, Mrs. Carter's passion for mental health and caregiving is evident in the way she unconditionally connects the two issues. Olsen explained that Richard depicts the experiences of three caregivers, highlighting the psychological impacts of the caregiving journey on both the individuals coping with their own health challenges and the caregivers, in addition to the dynamics within the family unit.

Olsen mentioned that Mrs. Carter's dedication to caregivers began at the age of 12, following her father's cancer diagnosis.

Rosalynn Carter once mentioned that the world is composed of four distinct types of individuals: those who have served as caregivers, those who currently hold caregiving responsibilities, those who are going to assume caregiving roles, and those who will eventually need the assistance of caregivers.

Throughout her journey to the governor's mansion and subsequently to the White House, she persistently championed the cause of the four types of caregivers. During her time in the White House, she regularly encountered people sharing their stories of hardships, with a particular emphasis on challenges related to mental health.