A 32-year-old man in southwestern China has quit his startup job to devote himself fully to caring for his mother, who suffers from a severe form of dementia that has left her with the mental capacity of a toddler.
Former Obstetrician Now Lives with Mental Capacity of a Two-Year-Old Child
Zhang Zhi lives with his 58-year-old mother, Yuan, in Sichuan province and shares their daily life on social media, where he has gained more than 300,000 followers.
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Yuan suffers from frontotemporal dementia, a degenerative brain disorder that has drastically changed her personality and behavior.
Before her illness, Yuan worked as an accomplished obstetrician who had delivered more than 1,000 babies.
Since her diagnosis about ten years ago, she has lost all memory of her medical career and no longer recognizes familiar faces.
The condition causes drastic personality shifts, behavior issues, and loss of language skills that worsen over time.
While medical care can ease some symptoms, there is no cure for frontotemporal dementia.
Most patients live for between six and ten years after diagnosis.
Full-Time Care and Travel Experiences Help Mother with Dementia
In October 2021, Zhang stepped away from his startup company to become his mother’s full-time carer.
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“When I was young, my mother took care of me. Now, I care for her the same way,” said Zhang.
Zhang was raised by his mother after his parents divorced during his childhood.
Yuan’s condition has led to incontinence, compulsive eating, and unpredictable actions.
She has taken food from strangers at restaurants, left stores without paying, and once relieved herself in a hotel hallway.
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Zhang has had to deal with police multiple times and has been required to offer apologies and compensation to people affected by his mother’s behavior.
In one serious incident, Yuan was hospitalized after secretly eating a large amount of salt at home.
To keep her safe, Zhang installed an iron gate at their front door and set up surveillance cameras at home.
He sticks reminder notes on the fridge to manage her daily needs and carefully cuts her food into small pieces to prevent choking.
Zhang also removes any sharp, fragile, or risky items from their home and uses a wrist link when they go out.
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Since falling ill, Yuan has developed a strong attachment to the color white.
Zhang caters to this preference by dressing her in white clothes and buying white tableware and furniture.
“The Best Life”
The mother and son have visited more than a dozen cities across China.
“Travel keeps her mind active by exposing her to new experiences. That is what travel is really about,” Zhang explained.
Zhang has no plans to marry, choosing instead to focus all his time and energy on caring for his mother.
Once reliant on savings from his previous business ventures, Zhang now supports their lifestyle through live-streaming.
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“Her condition rules out surgery or major treatment. All I can do is give her the best life I possibly can,” he added.
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