Chinese wife, 90, inspires millions by preserving Alzheimer’s husband’s dignity
A 90-year-old woman in Beijing is devoted to caring for her husband with Alzheimer’s disease, determined to safeguard not only his health but also his dignity. Wen Bo and her husband, who is two years older, first met as secondary school classmates. After several years of long-distance courtship, they married in 1960. Together, they raised two sons and embraced an active lifestyle for decades,…
In Beijing, a 90-year-old woman named Wen Bo is known for her dedication to her Alzheimer's-afflicted husband. Wen and her 91-year-old husband, who met as secondary school students, married in 1960 and raised two sons together. Their active lifestyle included swimming, walking, and occasional trips across China and abroad. In 2023, her husband's memory loss and incontinence led to an Alzheimer's diagnosis.
To avoid burdening her sons, Wen became his full-time caregiver. The couple uses a domestic helper for cooking and housework, while their children visit when they can. As his condition worsened, Wen taught herself about Alzheimer's through books and online resources, engaging him in cognitive exercises like puzzles and painting daily.
Her efforts have slowed his cognitive decline. Wen's husband can still operate his wheelchair and occasionally reminds her of self-care. She shares her caregiving journey on RedNote, garnering millions of netizen support. In August, she shared that her husband completed an arithmetic test, making only one mistake on a test he took a bit longer than usual.
She stresses that her husband must remember her name, as she is the last person he should forget. Wen believes individuals with Alzheimer's should be defined by their self-respect, sense of existence, and feeling of being needed. If his condition worsens significantly, she would consider hospice care. Wen's story offers a different perspective on ageing in China, where over 20% of the population is 60 or older.
Her posts inspire and comfort many, showcasing an ideal later life centered on dignity, autonomy, and companionship.
Written by urgent.news from South China Morning Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
