Rev. Jesse Jackson has returned home after spending more than a week in a Chicago hospital for treatment related to an ongoing neurological condition, according to his family.
Jackson, 84, was admitted to Northwestern Memorial Hospital on November 14 and was discharged on Monday, his son and family spokesperson, Yusef Jackson, confirmed to The Associated Press. The longtime civil rights leader is now back under full-time care at home, where he receives around-the-clock medical support.
In recent years, Rev. Jesse Jackson’s health challenges have become more complex. He was initially diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2013. However, his diagnosis was updated in April 2024 to progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), a rare neurodegenerative disorder that can resemble Parkinson’s but often progresses more rapidly. PSP affects balance, movement, vision, and speech, and there is currently no cure.
Yusef Jackson publicly thanked the medical professionals who oversaw his father’s care during the hospital stay, as well as those who provided security. He also acknowledged the outpouring of support the family received while Jackson was hospitalized.
“We are grateful for the countless friends and supporters who have reached out, visited, and prayed for our father,” Yusef Jackson said in a statement. “We humbly ask for your continued prayers throughout this precious time.”
During his hospitalization, Rev. Jesse Jackson received visits from several prominent figures, reflecting his decades-long role in American public life. Visitors included former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, civil rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton, and television personality Judge Greg Mathis.
Despite his declining health, Jackson continued to make appearances and remain engaged in public life in recent years. After publicly sharing his Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2017, he continued working and attending major events, including the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
In 2023, he stepped down as president of the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, the organization he founded in 1971 as Operation PUSH, though he continued visiting the organization’s office until earlier this year.
Family members have been closely involved in his care. According to relatives, Rev. Jesse Jackson now uses a wheelchair, has difficulty keeping his eyes open, and is unable to speak. His children, including Illinois Rep. Jonathan Jackson and former congressman Jesse Jackson Jr., have been helping care for him in shifts.