Jay Leno opens up about caring for his wife with dementia
Jay Leno has opened up about how much he enjoys caring for his wife as she lives with dementia.
In a conversation with ,鈥� the former late-night host shared what life is like these days with his wife of 45 years, Mavis.
Humor can be helpful, the comedian said of being a caregiver for someone with dementia.
鈥淲hen you get married, you sort of take a vow: 鈥榃ill I live up to this? Or will I be like a sleazy guy if something happens to my wife, I鈥檓 out banging the cashier at the mini mart?鈥欌� he said. 鈥淣o, I didn鈥檛. I enjoy the time with my wife. I go home, I cook dinner for her, watch TV and it鈥檚 okay.鈥�
According to Leno, the couple does 鈥渂asically what we did before, except now I have to feed her and do all those things.鈥�
鈥淏ut, I like it. I like taking care of her,鈥� he said. 鈥淪he鈥檚 a very independent woman, so I like that I鈥檓 needed.鈥�
Leno applied for and was granted conservatorship over his wife鈥檚 estate last year.
He told Bensinger he uses flash cards with Mavis to try and stir her memories, which has led to some funny moments.
鈥淚鈥檓 told people with dementia forget the people they鈥檙e with. But, you know, I do pictures of the flashcards,鈥� he said, while pretending to place a card down.
鈥溾楻emember? Remember?鈥� It鈥檚 kind of funny. I go, 鈥楬oney, that鈥檚 President Obama. Remember we had dinner?鈥欌� Leno said.
His wife would look at the flash card and say, 鈥淥h, not me鈥� causing him to say 鈥溾榊eah, yeah. Honey, it was you鈥�.鈥�
鈥淵ou have to find the humor in it,鈥� he added.