Jay Leno says caring for wife with dementia is challenging, but he took 'a vow' to live up to
Jay Leno opened up on caring for his wife, Mavis Leno, following her advanced dementia diagnosis, saying it has been 'challenging,' but he wouldn't have it any other way.
The 74-year-old comedian has been married to his wife, Mavis Leno since 1980.
'I have never been particularly challenged. I was not in the army, I didn't have to shoot anybody, I didn't have to risk my life. When you get married, you take a vow — Will I live up to this? Or will I be like a sleazy guy, if something happens to my wife, I'm out banging the cashier at the mini mart?' he said on Wednesday's episode of the 'In Depth with Graham Bensinger ' podcast.
'No, I didn't. I enjoy the time with my wife. I go home, I cook dinner for her, watch TV, it's okay. It's basically what we did before except now I have to feed her and do all the things. But, I like it. I like taking care of her,' he continued.
He described his wife as a "very independent person," and with her diagnosis, "I like that I'm needed."
'When you have to feed someone and change them, carry them to the bathroom and do that kind of stuff every day. It's a challenge,' he explained. 'And it's not that I enjoy doing it, but I guess I enjoy doing it.'
Leno said it's important to find the humor in every day things. He said a special moment for him is doing flashcards with pictures with his wife to refresh her memory.
'Remember this honey? It's kind of funny. Honey, that's President Obama, we had dinner,' he recalled telling her. She responded with 'Oh, not me.' Leno replied: 'Yeah honey, it was you… We went to the White House!'
Leno said that in his decades together with Mavis, he feels there's more love now than ever before.
'We've been married 45 years. The first 40 — unbelievable. The last five have been challenging, put it that way. I think there's more love now. Because, why am I doing this? You know? Well, this is why,' he said.
'At some point in my life I'm going to be called upon to defend myself, stand up, whatever it might be. I think that's really what defines a marriage. That's really what love is. That's what you do. I'm glad I didn't cut and run, I'm glad I didn't run off with some woman half my age or any of that silly nonsense. I would rather be with her than doing something else.'
Reflecting on his marriage he said, 'I married the person that had the ideals I wish I had.'
Lat year, the former late-night talk show host was granted conservatorship over his wife's estate due to her dementia.
The petition for conservatorship said Mavis had 'been progressively losing capacity and orientation to space and time for several years.' At the time a court-appointed lawyer recommended approving Leno's request for conservatorship, saying his
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Jay Leno opened up on caring for his wife, Mavis Leno, following her advanced dementia diagnosis, saying it has been 'challenging,' but he wouldn't have it any other way. The 74-year-old comedian has been married to his wife, Mavis Leno since 1980. 'I have never been particularly challenged. I was not in the army, I didn't have to shoot anybody, I didn't have to risk my life. When you get married, you take a vow — Will I live up to this? Or will I be like a sleazy guy, if something happens to my wife, I'm out banging the cashier at the mini mart?' he said on Wednesday's episode of the 'In Depth with Graham Bensinger ' podcast. 'No, I didn't. I enjoy the time with my wife. I go home, I cook dinner for her, watch TV, it's okay. It's basically what we did before except now I have to feed her and do all the things. But, I like it. I like taking care of her,' he continued. He described his wife as a "very independent person," and with her diagnosis, "I like that I'm needed." 'When you have to feed someone and change them, carry them to the bathroom and do that kind of stuff every day. It's a challenge,' he explained. 'And it's not that I enjoy doing it, but I guess I enjoy doing it.' Leno said it's important to find the humor in every day things. He said a special moment for him is doing flashcards with pictures with his wife to refresh her memory. 'Remember this honey? It's kind of funny. Honey, that's President Obama, we had dinner,' he recalled telling her. She responded with 'Oh, not me.' Leno replied: 'Yeah honey, it was you… We went to the White House!' Leno said that in his decades together with Mavis, he feels there's more love now than ever before. 'We've been married 45 years. The first 40 — unbelievable. The last five have been challenging, put it that way. I think there's more love now. Because, why am I doing this? You know? Well, this is why,' he said. 'At some point in my life I'm going to be called upon to defend myself, stand up, whatever it might be. I think that's really what defines a marriage. That's really what love is. That's what you do. I'm glad I didn't cut and run, I'm glad I didn't run off with some woman half my age or any of that silly nonsense. I would rather be with her than doing something else.' Reflecting on his marriage he said, 'I married the person that had the ideals I wish I had.' Lat year, the former late-night talk show host was granted conservatorship over his wife's estate due to her dementia. The petition for conservatorship said Mavis had 'been progressively losing capacity and orientation to space and time for several years.' At the time a court-appointed lawyer recommended approving Leno's request for conservatorship, saying his
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When later asked what the most 'challenging' part of being his wife's caretaker has been, the comedian replied, 'Well, that's the challenge, isn't it? 'When you have to feed someone and change them and carry them to the bathroom and do all that kind of stuff every day. It's a challenge. And it's not that I enjoy doing it, but I guess I enjoy doing it.' He said, 'It's OK, because I feel like I'm not taking advantage — I'm not just, "This person is attractive and sexy," and having sex with them and everything.' The TV personality added, 'I enjoy the time with my wife. I go home, I cook dinner for her, watch TV and it's OK. It's OK' 'When you have to feed someone and change them and carry them to the bathroom and do all that kind of stuff every day. It's a challenge. And it's not that I enjoy doing it, but I guess I enjoy doing it,' Jay said Jay went on, 'At some point in my life, I'm gonna be called upon to defend myself. I think that's really what defines a marriage. I mean, that's really what love is. That's what you do. 'I mean, I'm glad I didn't cut and run. I'm glad I didn't run off with some woman half my age or any of that silly nonsense. I mean, I would rather be with her than doing something else.' Earlier this year in January, Leno gave an emotional update while talking to People. He revealed that he still aims to find 'your moments where you can have a laugh and have fun. You try to find the humor in this situation.' 'I took my wife shopping, I can see she's a little down, [so I said], "Come on, we'll go to the mall." 'So we go to Nordstrom's and I said, "You see anything you like?" "No, no." So we look at the shoes, and [she says], "Oh, I like these sneakers."' The star explained that Mavis spotted a pair of 'bright-blue sneakers' and he told her to find a second pair of shoes that she also liked. She soon came across red-and-white trainers. 'So I see she's happy, and I said "This is great." So I got two pairs of sneakers, and [the cashier says] "That's $24. And the other pair, that's $847."' 'I go, "No, I only had two pairs of sneakers. I thought these were $24." [The cashier] goes, "Yeah, these are $24. But the other ones were [designer sneakers]."' Leno added, 'It looked like the guy took a pair of the same sneakers and used a bedazzler on them, and they were $800. I look at my wife and said, "You like these?" I go, "Honey, you look great."' Jay then told People, 'It's fine, I'm glad I can afford this and it made my wife happy. It just made me laugh. Just typical. I thought the $24 pair looked better than those, but that's OK. 'It just made me laugh, and I think when you're dealing with this kind of thing, you find your moments where you can have a laugh and have fun, and my wife really likes them and felt good about it.' Leno jokingly expressed, 'So the fact that it was the same pair of sneakers that got hit with a bedazzler, I guess that's fine. But it just made me laugh, and that's pretty much what it is.' Back in January of last year, it was revealed that Mavis had been diagnosed with 'advanced dementia,' although it is not known when she was diagnosed. And in April 2024, Leno was granted conservatorship of his wife. Later that month, Mavis herself gave an update on her condition as she accompanied her husband to the premiere of Unfrosted in Los Angeles. During an interview with Entertainment Tonight, she positively stated, 'I feel great, yeah!' Jay then added, 'Thought I'd come to something fun for a change. Everything is so controversial. Just to come to a funny, silly movie — it's great. I think people will have a great time. He also shared that he and his wife 'hang out every day.' 'We have a great time. 44 years! So we're doing good,' the late-night host gushed. The following month, Leno became emotional as he got candid about caring for his wife while the pair attended the Feminist Majority Foundation's 16th Annual Global Women's Rights Awards & Gala. He told Fox News, 'We've been married 44 years. It gets easier. It doesn't get harder. We do everything together. I go home every night, make dinner and sit around. We enjoy each other's company.' The couple appeared on stage during the ceremony, and Jay sweetly gushed that marrying Mavis was 'the smartest thing I've ever done. 'We have a lot of fun. People say marriage is difficult. I don't get it. I enjoy her company. I enjoy taking care of her. We have fun. 'She's the most independent woman I ever knew. Again, I just couldn't be prouder of her,' Leno added of the philanthropist. 'I am part of her legacy and that's what I'm proudest of.' The former talk show host is also preparing to celebrate his 75th birthday later this month on April 28.
