Son of Congresswoman Who Was Discovered in Independent Living Facility Speaks Out: 'A Hard Year'

The son of retiring Texas Republican Representative Kay Granger revealed on Sunday that she has been facing “dementia issues” in recent months, coinciding with her repeated absences from Congress.

The 81-year-old congresswoman has been staying in an assisted living facility, according to The Dallas Express, and has not participated in a vote on the House floor since July 24.

Brandon Granger, her son, confirmed to The Dallas Morning News that his mother is residing at Tradition Senior Living in Fort Worth, Texas, and experiencing some cognitive challenges. However, he emphasized that she is living in the independent living section, not the memory care unit.

“There’s nothing wrong with someone wanting to live in a community with other folks their age,” Brandon stated.

“She’s in a building with a lot of other folks her age that are super active that she really loves,” he continued. “She has exercise classes, she gets to be around people all the time, it’s wonderful for her for this point in life.”

Reflecting on the situation, he added, “It’s been a hard year.”

Granger has served in Congress since 1997, holding influential roles such as ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee from 2019 to 2023, and chairing the committee from the start of 2023 until stepping down in April.

In a statement released Sunday, her office denied that she is receiving memory care, explaining that her “health challenges have progressed, making frequent travel to Washington both difficult and unpredictable.”

“As many of my family, friends, and colleagues have known, I have been navigating some unforeseen health challenges over the past year,” Granger said, according to the Morning News.

Despite her health challenges, she traveled to Washington, D.C., in November to manage the closure of her office and attend meetings.

Granger announced her decision to retire at the end of last year, confirming she would not seek re-election in 2024. Texas Republican State Representative Craig Goldman, 56, won her seat in November and is set to be sworn into Congress next month.

Fellow Texas Republican Representative Tony Gonzales commented on the matter during an appearance on “Face the Nation” on Sunday, saying he “wasn’t aware” of Granger’s residence in the assisted living facility.

“I think there’s no doubt a lot of us knew that she was gaining an age, like a lot of members do. And sadly, you know, some of these members wait until it’s too long [and] things have gone too far,” Gonzales told CBS News anchor Margaret Brennan.

Gonzales added that he was “not too sure” how much House leadership knew about the situation.