Jay Leno gets candid on 'toughest part' of caretaking for wife Mavis amid dementia battle

Caretaking is a labor of love, but Jay Leno doesn't mind putting in the work.

The comedian and former late-night host, whose longtime wife, Mavis Leno, suffers from dementia, opened up about the highs and lows of his caretaking journey during an interview on the "Today" show aired Thursday, Nov. 20.

"I understand what it is, so I don't — you can't blame someone," Leno, 75, told "Today" alum Hoda Kotb. "She's not forgetting me, you know. That hasn't happened yet. She seems extremely comfortable now."

Leno and Mavis met in the 1970s at The Comedy Store club before getting married in 1980. The couple do not have children.

In January 2024, Leno filed to be appointed conservator of his wife's estate amid her diagnosis. Mavis suffers from "dementia, major neurocognitive disorder," her physician wrote in a doctor's capacity declaration, which also outlined the decline of her cognitive function.

Leno, who has overseen the couple's finances over the course of their decadeslong marriage, "will continue to do so until his passing," the petition stated, adding, "Jay is fully capable of continuing his support for Mavis' physical and financial needs as he has throughout their marriage."

Jay Leno on the 'toughest part' of caretaking for wife Mavis Leno

Grief has been a recurring theme for Jay and Mavis Leno amid the activist's dementia battle.

"I mean, probably the toughest part was, every day she'd wake up and realize someone had called today to tell her [that] her mother had passed away," Leno reflected during his "Today" show appearance.

Dementia, an umbrella term encompassing a "collection of cognitive, functional and behavioral symptoms," typically causes short-term memory loss. Other symptoms include repeating questions, misplacing items and struggling with everyday activities like managing medications, cooking and using technology.

"Her mother died every day for, like, three years," Leno continued. "And it was not just crying, I mean, you're learning for the first time. And that was really tricky."

How Jay Leno uses his comedic charm to cheer up wife Mavis Leno

They say laughter is the best medicine, and that has proven true for the Lenos.

During his "Today" show interview, the comedy icon shared that he makes an effort to inject humor into his everyday caretaking for wife Mavis.

"When I'm carrying her to the bathroom, I call it Jay and Mavis at the prom, you know, [like] in high school,” Leno said. “So, we're just back and forth, and she thinks that's funny."

Despite the ongoing difficulties of Mavis' dementia, Leno said his wife "seems contented."

"You know, I can see the smile. I can tell when she's happy," Leno said. "And when she looks at me and smiles and says she loves me, I mean, I melt."

Contributing: Taijuan Moorman and Daryl Austin, USA TODAY