Jay Leno Opens Up About the ‘Toughest Part’ of Caring for Wife Mavis During Her Dementia Battle

Jay Leno is sharing the heartbreaking reality of caring for his wife, Mavis Leno, as she battles advanced dementia.

In a candid conversation that aired on Thursday, Nov. 20, with “Today” host Hoda Kotb, Leno described the emotional burden of watching Mavis relive difficult memories — and reaffirmed his commitment to their 45-year marriage.  

Reliving Pain Every Day

Leno revealed that the hardest part has been how Mavis wakes up every day believing a painful piece of news all over again: that her mother has died.

For three years, he said, she would mourn her mother’s absence.

“And her mother died every day for, like, three years. And it was not just crying, I mean, you’re learning for the first time. Each time was — and that was really tricky. Yeah, that makes it hard,” he told the outlet.

Redefining Their Normal

Despite these challenges, Leno strives to preserve a sense of normalcy for Mavis and himself.

He said he misses simple things they used to do, like traveling and dining out — activities that are no longer possible for her.

Still, he finds joy in new routines: taking her on drives and watching travel and animal videos on YouTube.

“I mean, I feel bad. You reach this point in your life where she loves to travel,” he said.

“So I’m sad that she can’t do those things. But, you know, there’s so much stuff on YouTube, the travel stuff, and we watch those things and, you know, the animal shows and all that kinda stuff,” Leno continued.

Leno admitted he feels guilty about the things she can no longer do, but he cherishes the moments that remain.

He pointed to her flashes of recognition and affection as the most meaningful parts of his role.

“You know, I can see the smile. I can tell when she’s happy. And when she looks at me and smiles and says she loves me, I mean, I melt,” he added.

A Love That Stays True

In January 2024, Leno was granted conservatorship over Mavis’s estate after her dementia diagnosis.

Speaking about his role, he emphasized that this isn’t about pity — he truly values being needed. “I like that. I love that she needs me,” he told Kotb.

Leno also reflected on what caregiving means to him in the context of marriage.

“You know, for better or worse … but even the worst is not that bad,” he said.

He believes in the vows he made decades ago and sees his daily care as an expression of that promise.

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