Marlene Lufen: Sat.1 presenter bursts into tears on television

The otherwise cheerful “Sat.1 breakfast television” presenter Marlene Lufen showed an unusually sensitive side in the TV magazine “Gala”. In an interview with gala presenter Annika Lau, Lufen spoke about her 83-year-old mother, who suffers from dementia.

Her mother showed the first signs of dementia about eight years ago and she now lives in a nursing home in Berlin. Lau’s question as to whether Lufen could imagine caring for her mother when it comes to the end brings tears to the moderator’s eyes. “Everyone can decide what the standard is for them.”

She talked a lot about the topic with her sister and looked into converting her house to accommodate her mother and a carer. She also considered taking a step back from her career. “But what does slowing down mean?” asks Lufen. Children and partners would also be affected by the decision to bring their mother home. “And they also want to have space.”

Her mother never wanted her daughters to limit themselves and care for her. “I think it’s very, very difficult when you become your own parents’ caregiver.”

In the TV interview, the 53-year-old also looks back on a recent family vacation – possibly the last one with her mother. “A journey like this is very difficult. If people with dementia don’t know where they are, they can have panic attacks. Even if you are only out of the room for a short time.”

But she also emphasizes the good things: “You can talk to her about all emotional topics like you used to.” When she is with her mother, she always feels very happy.

Transparency note: The star is part of RTL Deutschland