Emma Heming Willis Opens Up About the Painful Choice to Move Bruce Into a Separate Home for Specialized Care
Emma Heming Willis has spoken openly about the struggles of caring for her husband, Bruce Willis, as he continues to battle frontotemporal dementia (FTD). One of the most difficult decisions she’s had to make was moving Bruce, 70, into a nearby one-story home designed to provide the round-the-clock care he now needs.
A Heartbreaking but Necessary Step
In an emotional conversation with Diane Sawyer for The Unexpected Journey – A Diane Sawyer Special, Emma described the heartbreaking moment she realized Bruce required a calmer, more structured environment.
“It was the hardest thing,” she told PEOPLE in the magazine’s latest cover story. The new home, which the family calls their “second home,” offers Bruce a safe, quiet space tailored to his medical needs.
This change has also allowed their daughters, Mabel, 13, and Evelyn, 11, to enjoy a sense of normalcy. “We have two young children, and it was just important that they had a home that supported their needs and that Bruce could have a place that supported his needs,” Emma explained. “The kids can have playdates and sleepovers again without having to walk around on tiptoe.”
Although the move was emotionally taxing, Emma says the family feels more at peace. “Everything just feels a lot calmer, more at ease now,” she shared, adding that she is grateful to be able to create a space where both Bruce and the children can thrive.
For Emma, this decision has also brought her closer to Bruce. “I get to go back to being Bruce’s wife and the kids can be kids. There’s beauty in that, and I’m so grateful,” she said.
The Emotional Toll of Caregiving
Emma has also been candid about the heavy emotional burden caregivers face, particularly when navigating dementia. In an Instagram post from August 29, 2025, she addressed both the support and criticism she has received since sharing details about Bruce’s care.
“What I knew is that by sharing some of our intimate information, we would see these two camps — people with opinions versus people with actual experience,” she wrote. She acknowledged that caregivers often deal with judgment and criticism from outsiders, despite doing their best for their loved ones.
A Family United
Through it all, the Willis family has remained deeply involved in Bruce’s care. Emma and her daughters are joined by Bruce’s three older children — Rumer, 34, Scout, 31, and Tallulah, 31 — from his marriage to Demi Moore. Together, they’ve found new ways of connecting with Bruce as his condition changes.
“We have a way of communicating with him, which is just different,” Emma said.
Bruce’s Journey with Dementia
Bruce’s health challenges began with an aphasia diagnosis in 2022, after noticeable difficulties with memory and speech, particularly on set. At the time, Emma reassured fans that the family was standing strong together.
In February 2023, Rumer revealed that his condition had progressed to frontotemporal dementia, a disease that affects behavior, language, and personality. “Unfortunately, communication issues are just one of the many symptoms Bruce faces,” she shared, though she added that having a clear diagnosis provided some relief.
Emma recalls the early signs of change, when Bruce — once so warm, affectionate, and talkative — began withdrawing. “For someone who was very engaged, he became quieter,” she explained. “When the family got together, he would sort of fade into the background. It didn’t feel like the Bruce we knew.”
Despite the challenges, Emma and the family remain united in ensuring Bruce’s life is filled with dignity, care, and love.
