Barbara Bush, the wife of former U.S. President George HW Bush, is in "failing health" and has decided to no longer seek medical treatment, the office of the ex-president said in a statement from Houston on Sunday.
The former first lady, the statement said, "will instead focus on comfort care." She is 92 years old.
The short statement did not indicate the nature of Bush's illness but said that she had had a series of recent hospitalizations.
"She is surrounded by a family she adores and appreciates the many kind messages and especially the prayers she is receiving," the statement added.
Ms Bush is the mother of former President George W Bush, 71, the 43rd US president.
She was known for promoting literacy in her time as first lady, calling it the "most important issue we have".
During her husband's 1992 presidential campaign, Ms Bush stated that abortion and homosexuality are personal matters and argued that the Republican Party platform should not take a stand on it, saying that "The personal things should be left out of, in my opinion, platforms and conventions."
