Jay Leno Says Becoming Wife Mavis’ Caretaker After Dementia Diagnosis Is ‘What Love Is’: ‘I Would Rather Be with Her’

https://people.com/jay-leno-becoming-wife-mavis-leno-caretaker-after-dementia-diagnosis-what-love-is-8639815

24 comments

  1. >”When you get married, you sort of 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. “No, I didn’t. I enjoy the time with my wife. I go home, I cook dinner for her, watch TV and it’s okay.”

    >”It’s basically what we did before, except now I have to feed her and do all those things,” he continued. “But, I like it. I like taking care of her. She’s a very independent woman, so I like that I’m needed.”

    >Jay added that “you have to find the humor” in the situation to get through hard things, recalling a time when he took Mavis, now 78, shopping at Nordstrom, and she insisted on buying a pair of designer shoes.

    >Still, that doesn’t take away from the difficulty of the new dynamic he has with his wife of 45 years.

    >”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,” he said. “It’s a challenge. And it’s not that I enjoy doing it, but I guess I enjoy doing it.”

    >”I’m not just, ‘This person is attractive and sexy,’ and having sex with them and everything,” he noted of having a partner. “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 would rather be with her than doing something else.”

  4. Jay makes those guys with their 30-years-younger second and third wives look pretty pathetic.

  7. Never cared for Leno when he was on the Tonight Show, but this is a solid class act. 

  10. That’s nice of him, but let’s not act like he’s a complete class act

  11. Car guys will know Jay Leno has been a huge contributor to the car community for a while now, and still makes the best car show on YouTube every week even during COVID.

  13. I recently had to care for my father through cancer and hospice. If you have the choice (I was lucky enough to have one) take care of that loved one. It IS what love is.

  16. I actually think that most people who have the means and access should hire professional carers for their loved ones with dementia. The damage that a caregiver-care receiver dynamic can do to a personal relationship is immense, not to mention that fact that professionals are better able to to provide the necessary level of care.

    He should make use of professional services so that he can remain her husband, not her nurse.

  17. It is a very hard road but one that can only be done with love. Prayers are sent with the hope of joy in your caretaking but remember to reach out for assistance.

  18. Not a Leno comedy fan but a big Leno car commentary fan.

  19. I’ve spoken with him on the phone and met him personally. He’s lovely. 

  21. I’m sorry to hear this. Mavis supported the rights of women in Afghanistan.

  22. Hope it reaches him some basic empathy and common decency.

  23. I know Leno gets a lot of shit, but I’ve never thought he’s really a bad guy. Sure, the Conan thing was a shitshow, and I love Conan to death… but Leno has done quite a few good things over the years.

    I remember when he came to a town near where I grew up to perform for free to help raise money for a community in need.

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