Bruce Willis is now living with full-time caregivers in a separate home near his wife Emma Heming Willis and their young daughters as he continues his battle with frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
The 70-year-old actor’s wife, 49, opened up about the difficult decision during an interview with Diane Sawyer for ABC News’ The Unexpected Journey, airing alongside the release of her book of the same name on September 9.
According to Heming Willis, the one-story home allows Bruce’s care team to better support him while keeping him safe. The arrangement also makes it easier for his family — including Heming Willis, their two daughters, and Willis’ ex-wife Demi Moore with their three adult daughters — to visit him often.
“It’s one of the hardest decisions I’ve had to make so far,” Heming Willis said. “But I knew, first and foremost, Bruce would want that for our daughters. He would want them to be in a home that was more tailored to their needs, not his.”
She explained that although her husband no longer lives under the same roof full-time, they spend mornings and evenings together. “It is a house filled with warmth and love and care and laughter. And it’s been beautiful to see how many of Bruce’s friends continue to show up.”
In early 2022, Willis’ family announced his retirement from acting after he was diagnosed with aphasia, a condition that affects speech and communication. Just over a year later, the family revealed that he had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, a progressive brain disorder.
Heming Willis admitted she first noticed changes in his demeanor before they understood what was happening medically. “I didn’t understand what was happening. And I just thought like, ‘How can I remain in a marriage that doesn’t feel like what we had?’” she recalled.
Despite the challenges, she says there are still moments when the “old Bruce” shines through.
“When we are with him, he lights up. That’s all I need. I don’t need him to know I’m his wife, or when we were married. I just want to feel a connection with him and I do.”
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