Former first lady Rosalynn Carter was a pioneering advocate for mental health and caregiver support – two incredibly important issues that apply to individuals and families living with vascular disease. Vascular conditions more commonly affect older populations, who often rely on caregivers. This can impact mental health for both patients and caregivers, which in turn can impact their day-to-day life and overall health.

Because of advocates and champions of mental health like Rosalynn Carter, changes are being made to mental health care systems. It was announced this week that mental health care will be covered more comprehensively under Medicare, meaning that older adults will have access to many more services and providers to address their mental health needs, starting in January 2024. This is a major step towards better addressing the mental health considerations of older populations, including those living with vascular conditions that could make basic activities like walking significantly harder. For more information on mental health and how it relates to your vascular wellbeing, check out this blogpost: https://www.vascularcures.org/news/mental-health-why-it-matters-in-vascular-disease. 

Similarly, the Rosalynn Carter Institute is bringing needed attention to caregivers, whose importance, time, and dedicated energy are too often overlooked. We know through our vascular research and education initiatives that caregivers are critical to improving patient outcomes. The Foundation to Advance Vascular Cures is committed to better vascular health for all, and that includes considering all factors that affect vascular health – including mental health – and all the people who effect real change for patients, with caregivers foremost among them.