Emma Heming, Bruce Willis’ wife, has shared how moving to a second home has helped her reconnect with her husband as a partner, rather than solely as his caregiver, as he continues to live with frontotemporal dementia.
I was so saddened to learn that Bruce Willis, who’s always been a huge action hero for me, was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) last year. It’s a really tough condition that impacts how people speak, their personality, and sadly, causes their thinking skills to slowly decline. It’s been heartbreaking to watch.
He’s moved away from acting in Hollywood, and Emma has become the family’s anchor as they cope with difficult times.
The couple have been married for 16 years, and are parents to daughters, Mabel, 13, and Evelyn, 11.
Emma recently shared in an interview with The Sunday Times that Bruce has moved to a separate home where he’s receiving full-time care, as his health has been worsening.
She said putting him in a separate home was incredibly difficult, one of the toughest choices she’d ever faced. However, she believed it was the best thing for their daughters and gave her a much-needed respite from being his full-time caregiver.
Despite the pain and difficulty, she believed it was the best decision – for everyone involved, including her husband, their daughters, and herself. Being able to rebuild their marriage felt like an incredible blessing.
Emma mentioned that Bruce has become more independent since moving out on his own, and that he especially enjoys spending Friday nights with his friends, having what she called a ‘dude hangout’.
She shared that it’s been a huge relief for her loved ones to connect with him independently, away from her home and her worry about hosting. It’s allowed them to have their own personal experiences and reactions without her feeling responsible for managing everything or witnessing their grief firsthand.
She mentioned their daughters have adjusted well to their father’s illness, happily visiting him after school to play on his lap and in the garden.
Emma explained that there’s a gentle understanding within the family. The girls have adjusted to their father’s illness and know how to navigate life with him as he is now. It’s heartwarming to see, but also sad because they still long for the father they used to have.
She explained how her relationship with Bruce has evolved as his illness has progressed, noting that they’ve developed a unique and special way of connecting with each other.
As many of you know, I’ve always been a big advocate for creating living spaces that truly support your lifestyle. That’s why I was so touched by Emma Willis sharing on the ABC special about Bruce and their journey. She revealed they’ve moved into a single-story home, which just makes so much sense for him and his current needs. It’s a beautiful example of adapting your environment to prioritize comfort and wellbeing, and it really resonated with me.
Honestly, it just broke my heart when she said it. She explained that Bruce always wanted what was best *for the kids*, not for himself. He’d have wanted them in a place that really suited *their* lives, not his own preferences. It just…it proves how selfless he was, even in making those big decisions. I knew it, of course, but hearing her say it… it just solidified everything for me.
I’ve learned that family is everything, and even when life changes, staying connected is key. My ex is now living with a full-time care team, and I make it a priority to bring our daughters, Mabel and Evelyn, to visit him often – we share lots of meals together, like breakfast and dinner, and we’re always finding new ways to make those moments truly special. It’s about quality time, no matter the circumstances.
She explained that when they visit, they usually either spend time outdoors or watch a movie together – the most important thing is simply being with Bruce and connecting with him.
This home is full of love, warmth, and happiness. It’s been wonderful to see how Bruce’s friends continue to support him, bringing joy and energy into his life.
In an interview with Diane Sawyer, Emma shared that Bruce is still physically active and generally in good health, but is experiencing a decline in his cognitive function.
She explained that they’ve found a unique way to connect with him, and she’s thankful that he’s still present in their lives.
In her book, *The Unexpected Journey*, Emma shares the difficult moment she told her daughters about their father, Bruce, being diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD). She writes about how this news changed their lives and the strength they found in facing it together.
She explained that her father’s illness was progressing and he needed more personalized care. She told him, ‘You deserve a home that better suits your current needs,’ according to TooFab.
Your dad would have loved for you to have more fun with friends – things like playdates and sleepovers – and to have a little more independence. It would have brought him so much joy.
Emma attempted to make the news easier for Mabel and Evelyn by explaining that Bruce’s new place would still feel like a familiar home to them.
She described the house as a storage space for his personal items – things like toys, art supplies, swimwear, pajamas, and games – and said we were welcome to visit him whenever he wanted company.
Emma acknowledged the decision was difficult, but stressed it was what Bruce would have wished for their family.
Despite understanding his illness after so many years, making this decision was still difficult and upsetting. While it’s the best thing for Bruce’s health and safety, and will help our children grow up happy, it wasn’t an easy time for our family, she explained.
It still hurts a lot, honestly. This is my husband we’re talking about, and I never imagined he’d be living somewhere else. It’s something you just don’t expect to happen.
On Tuesday, Emma responded to online critics who disapproved of her choice to have the actor move out of their shared home.
During an interview on Good Morning America, she addressed the criticism she’s received online, explaining that Bruce Willis lives in a separate home with a dedicated team providing him with 24/7 care. This arrangement also helps protect their daughters and ensures everyone’s needs are being met.
She firmly stated that the decision was the best and safest one, not only for Bruce, but also for their two daughters, and she didn’t feel it was open for discussion.
I’m completely confident that Bruce is always receiving the best possible care, and that our daughters’ needs are also fully met. Because of that, there’s no need for me to discuss or vote on it.
Emma pointed out that people often unfairly criticize caregivers, explaining that many offer opinions without truly understanding the challenges involved. She noted, ‘Caregivers face a lot of judgment, and it really highlights the difference between simply having an opinion and actually having the experience.’
The author explained that dementia affects each family in a unique way. They emphasized that every person’s experience with the condition is different.
Prioritize the safety and well-being of your family, especially your children, and make decisions that protect those you love.
She had a turning point when a neurologist told her that caregivers frequently pass away before the people they’re caring for.
She realized she wasn’t a failure just because she needed assistance. It was okay to ask for help, something she hadn’t fully understood before. She confessed she’d been waiting for someone to reassure her that it was alright to seek support.
My hope is that this book empowers caregivers to prioritize their own well-being. After all, they can’t effectively care for someone else if they don’t take care of themselves first,” she explained.
Last week, Emma shared the heartbreaking story of finding out her husband would be living with dementia.
Honestly, the doctor was probably trying to explain what’s going on, what this whole FTD thing is… but it was like I was underwater. I just… couldn’t process a single word. It’s like my brain just shut down, and all I could think about was *him*. It was awful, I was so lost in my own world, I didn’t even hear what the doctor was saying.
I felt a tingling sensation all over my body, and my ears felt muffled. I believe he was trying to tell us something important, but all he actually said was, ‘Check back later, and here’s a brochure.’
Although the diagnosis helped Emma understand Bruce’s recent behavioral changes, she felt upset and unsupported by the lack of guidance she received afterward.
Honestly, getting a name for what was happening felt like a relief, but it completely crushed me to learn there’s no fix. And then… just being sent home, left to deal with it all alone? It was devastating, truly. I felt so abandoned and it really messed me up, I can tell you that.
‘It’s not just happening to us. This is how many people are receiving their diagnosis.’
Like many Americans whose family members have been diagnosed with dementia, Emma felt lost and unsure of what to do after Bruce received his diagnosis.
Because her doctors didn’t offer much help, she had to do her own research, explaining, ‘I basically had to Google everything to figure things out.’
She remembers that time as deeply lonely and depressing, explaining that at first, life felt overwhelmingly sad and filled only with grief.
Emma, who is the main person caring for Bruce, says she felt incredibly stressed. She was juggling Bruce’s care, protecting his personal life, and mostly raising their two young daughters all by herself.
She eventually found a path forward by seeking advice from doctors, connecting with people who understood what she was going through, and dedicating herself to raising awareness.
At first, she was afraid to talk about it, feeling like she and her family were the only ones experiencing this. ‘It felt like what was happening was only happening to us,’ she explained.
I understood that discussing this openly and increasing awareness could help people see a doctor earlier, receive a quicker diagnosis, and have the opportunity to participate in clinical trials.
Her experiences have deeply influenced her new book, *The Unexpected Journey*, which offers support and guidance to families dealing with neurodegenerative diseases.
I’ve always felt like this book was written for me, right when we first learned about the diagnosis. She explained that’s exactly what she hoped – that it would be the resource she wished *she* had back then.
Being a caregiver is incredibly challenging, and many people face this difficulty without much help. What keeps me going is knowing I can make someone else feel a little less isolated.
These comments follow a report in the Daily Mail from a source close to the family, who said Bruce Willis’ condition is rapidly worsening and that he sometimes struggles to recognize people.
Bruce is receiving strong support from his family as he deals with his health challenges. This includes his ex-wife, Demi Moore, and their three daughters: Rumer, 37, Scout, 34, and Tallulah, 31, who have all come together to support him.
According to a Daily Mail source, Bruce Willis’s daughters are making a real effort to be with him as much as possible, and he’s visibly happier when he’s around them.
Read More
- Clash Royale Best Boss Bandit Champion decks
- RAVEN2 redeem codes and how to use them (October 2025)
- Clash Royale Furnace Evolution best decks guide
- Chaos Zero Nightmare Combatant Tier List
- Stocks stay snoozy as Moody’s drops U.S. credit—guess we’re all just waiting for the crash
- The Best Movies of 2025 So Far
- Kingdom Rush Battles Tower Tier List
- CBS allowed to distribute Sony’s ‘Wheel of Fortune,’ ‘Jeopardy!’ during lawsuit appeal
- How To Romance Morgen In Tainted Grail: The Fall Of Avalon
- Bentley Delivers Largest Fleet of Bespoke Flying Spurs to Galaxy Macau
2025-09-14 11:36