Bruce Willis’ wife gives huge dementia update – actor moved to “second home”
In a candid and emotional new interview, Emma Heming Willis, the wife of iconic actor Bruce Willis, has revealed one of the most challenging decisions the family has made following his devastating frontotemporal dementia (FTD) diagnosis: moving the star into a separate, single-story home designed specifically for his care needs.
The revelation came during an ABC special, Emma & Bruce Willis: The Unexpected Journey, released on August 26. Willis was diagnosed with FTD in 2023, less than a year after his initial diagnosis of aphasia, which first explained his withdrawal from public life.
Tailoring the Home to His Needs
Speaking with Diane Sawyer, Emma Heming Willis opened up about the difficulty of the move, stressing that the decision was ultimately made for their two young daughters, Mabel Ray, 13, and Evelyn Penn, 11.
“I knew, first and foremost, Bruce would want that for our daughters,” Emma explained. “He would want them to be in a home that was more tailored to their needs, not his needs.”
The family made the decision to move the actor into a second, nearby home “some time ago” after learning that noise and the increased activity of a bustling family life could agitate his condition. This meant the girls could no longer host spontaneous sleepovers or playdates at the main family residence.
“I didn’t know if parents would feel comfortable leaving their kid at our home,” Emma said, acknowledging the isolating effect the initial setup had. “I isolated our whole family, and that was by design… That was a hard time.”
Despite the physical separation, Emma stressed that the new abode is treated as a “second home” for the entire family. “We’re there a lot,” she affirmed. “It’s our second home, so the girls have their things there.”
She painted a picture of a residence filled with unwavering support: “It is, you know, a house that is filled with love and warmth and care and laughter. It’s been beautiful to see that, to see how many of Bruce’s friends continue to show up for him, you know, they bring in life and fun.”
Emma also offered a direct update on the actor’s physical status, contradicting previous reports suggesting a rapid decline. “Bruce is still very mobile,” she stated. “Bruce is in really great health, overall, it’s just his brain that is failing him.”
She conceded that the core challenge remains communication: “The language is going, and, you know, we’ve learned to adapt. We have a way of communicating with him, which is just a different, a different way.”
Early Symptoms and Misinformation
The interview also touched upon the unsettling early signs of the illness. For someone known for his talkative and engaged nature, the shift was stark. “He was just a little more quiet and, when the family would get together, he would just melt a little bit,” Heming Willis told ABC, detailing the early symptoms. “He felt a little removed, a little cold, not like Bruce who was very warm and very affectionate. To go the complete opposite of that was alarming and scary.”
These updates follow previous reports citing sources close to the family that Willis was experiencing a general decline in acuity, struggles with recognition, and a decreased appetite, which is common in FTD patients. Emma had previously publicly pushed back against “blurbs of misinformation,” specifically being “triggered” by claims that suggested “there is no more joy in my husband.”
The family’s decision to house the actor separately reflects the specialized, low-stimulation environment necessary for managing advanced frontotemporal dementia, prioritizing his safety and the emotional well-being of his young children while ensuring the entire family remains deeply connected.