Emma Heming Willis has been candid about the challenges she’s faced in caring for her husband, Bruce Willis, as he battles frontotemporal dementia (FTD).
One of the hardest decisions she’s made in this journey was moving Bruce, 70, into a separate home for round-the-clock care.
The Heartbreaking Decision to Separate for Specialized Care
In an emotional interview with Diane Sawyer for The Unexpected Journey – A Diane Sawyer Special, Emma spoke about the gut-wrenching decision to move Bruce into a nearby one-story house more suited to his medical needs.
"It was the hardest thing," Emma shared with PEOPLE in the magazine's latest cover story, explaining that Bruce's condition, which requires a calm and serene atmosphere, made this difficult choice necessary.
The new home, which the family considers their "second home," provides a quiet, safe, and comfortable space, designed to meet Bruce’s specific needs.
This decision, though difficult, has allowed their daughters, Mabel, 13, and Evelyn, 11, to maintain a sense of normalcy and be free to enjoy their childhood.
“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] and not have to walk around tiptoeing.”
While the decision to move Bruce into a separate home was emotionally taxing, Emma is grateful for how it has positively impacted the family.
"Everything just feels a lot calmer, more at ease now," Emma said, acknowledging how fortunate they are to be able to facilitate such a living arrangement.
For Emma, this change has allowed her to reconnect with Bruce in a way that feels more natural and grounded. “I get to go back to being Bruce’s wife and the kids can be kids and there’s beauty in that and I’m so grateful for that," she shared.
Emma also recognizes the profound emotional toll that caregiving can take, particularly with a condition like dementia.
In a heartfelt Instagram post shared on August 29, 2025, she addressed commenters who had expressed concerns about the family’s decision.
“What I knew is that by sharing some of our intimate information that we would see these two camps. It would be people with an opinion versus people with an actual experience,” Emma wrote.
She further explained that while some people may criticize or judge her, “caregivers are up against... judgment from others and criticism from others.”
The Role of Family in Bruce’s Journey
Emma is not alone in supporting Bruce during this challenging time.
The family has rallied together to care for him, with Emma’s daughters, as well as Bruce’s three older children - Rumer, 34, Scout, 31, and Tallulah, 31, from his previous marriage to Demi Moore - remaining deeply involved in his care.
Emma emphasizes the importance of adapting to new ways of communicating with Bruce as his condition progresses.
“We have a way of communicating with him, which is just a different, a different way,” she said.
Coping with Frontotemporal Dementia
Bruce's diagnosis has been a long, emotional journey for the family.
Initially, Bruce was diagnosed with aphasia in 2022, a disorder that affects his ability to communicate.
His struggles on set were a clear sign that something was wrong, as he would frequently miss lines and appear confused.
Emma, in a post to social media, reassured fans that the family was supporting Bruce and standing strong together. "We are moving through this as a strong family unit,” she wrote, reminding followers that Bruce’s condition didn’t define his fight to live life fully.
In February 2023, Bruce’s daughter Rumer revealed that his condition had progressed to frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a degenerative disease that affects behavior, language, and personality.
"Unfortunately, challenges with communication are just one symptom of the disease Bruce faces. While this is painful, it is a relief to finally have a clear diagnosis," Rumer said.
Emma recalled how the first signs of change were subtle but disturbing, noting how Bruce, once so talkative and affectionate, became increasingly withdrawn.
“For someone who is very talkative and very engaged, he was just a little more quiet,” Emma said. “When the family would get together, he would kind of just melt a little bit. It felt a little removed, very cold, not like Bruce, who was very warm and affectionate.”