Emma Heming Willis has shared insights on her challenging decision-making process following her husband Bruce Willis’ dementia diagnosis. At 47, she opted to relocate the 70-year-old actor to a separate residence for constant professional care.
“It was one of the hardest decisions that I’ve had to make so far,” Emma remarked during a heartfelt interview with ABC News, aired on Tuesday, August 26, 2025. She noted Bruce’s preference for their daughters’ well-being over their living in a medically equipped environment.
The family’s journey began in March 2022 when Willis retired from acting following an aphasia diagnosis, a condition impairing speech and language. By 2023, a more precise diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia was given, a disease without a known cure.
This dementia variant affects the brain’s frontal and temporal lobes, leading to personality shifts, language challenges, and compulsive behaviors. For Willis, famed for films like “Die Hard” and “Pulp Fiction,” the disease has eroded his ability to communicate effectively.
Emma conveyed to ABC News that despite Bruce’s physical mobility and general health, his cognitive functions are deteriorating. The language impairment is progressing, but the family has adapted by finding alternative communication methods.
Prior to his illness, Bruce enjoyed taking their daughters Mabel, 13, and Evelyn, 11, to school. Emma noticed issues when these school runs became less frequent, and his usual warmth appeared to wane.
Emma initially felt unprepared when informed of Bruce’s dementia diagnosis, leaving the doctor’s office with minimal guidance beyond a pamphlet and future follow-up instructions.
Initially, Emma managed Bruce’s care at home, striving to maintain normalcy for their children. However, she began isolating the family as noise exacerbated Bruce’s condition.
Emma restricted playdates and sleepovers for their daughters, uncertain about other parents’ comfort levels with their home situation. She acknowledged that this self-imposed isolation was a challenging period.
The realization that this setup was unfair to their children led Emma to the difficult decision of moving Bruce to a single-story home for 24-hour professional care.
Despite living separately, the family remains united. Emma visits Bruce daily for breakfast and dinner, describing his new residence as a place imbued with love and care.
Their daughters frequently visit, as do Bruce’s three older daughters from his previous marriage to Demi Moore—Rumer, 37, Scout, 34, and Tallulah, 31—all spend time with him.
Emma stated that Bruce still recognizes her, lighting up when she enters his room. He maintains the same connection with his five daughters, who regularly visit, hold hands, kiss, and hug him, eliciting positive responses.
Emma has channeled her experiences into helping other families, authoring “The Unexpected Journey: Finding Strength, Hope, and Yourself on the Caregiving Path,” set for release in September.
The book arose from Emma’s frustration with the limited guidance received post-diagnosis, aiming to better equip caregivers than she was initially.
Emma also co-founded Make Time Wellness, focusing on women’s brain health, and advocates for families handling dementia, highlighting that care costs for frontotemporal dementia can average nearly $120,000 annually.
Her advocacy underscores shared emotions of sadness, grief, anger, and resentment among caregivers, fostering a supportive bond among those facing similar trials.
The Willis family’s circumstances mirror those of many American families confronting dementia. Nearly seven million older adults in the U.S. have Alzheimer’s, while frontotemporal dementia is one of the prevalent forms affecting individuals under 60.
Experts predict a potential tripling of global dementia cases by 2050, underscoring the importance of Emma’s advocacy and forthcoming book for families facing these challenges.
Bruce Willis concluded his long Hollywood career in 2022 as his condition advanced. Known for his roles in the “Die Hard” series, “Moonlighting,” “The Sixth Sense,” and “Pulp Fiction,” he remains a significant figure in action cinema.