Emma Heming Willis recently revealed the difficult moment when she informed her daughters that their father, Bruce Willis, would be moving out of the family home. Emma and Bruce, who have been married for over ten years, have two daughters together, Mabel, 13, and Evelyn, 11.
The family faced a significant challenge in 2022 when Bruce was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Although they received the diagnosis that year, they chose to keep it private until a year later.
As Bruce’s condition has advanced, Emma made the tough decision that it was best for him to live apart from the family so he could receive the necessary care. She explained, “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 needs.”
Reflecting on the moment she informed Mabel and Evelyn that Bruce would be living in a separate residence near their home, Emma wrote about it in her book, “The Unexpected Journey: Finding Strength, Hope, and Yourself on the Caregiving Path.” She explained to them, “‘We’ve come to a point in Daddy’s disease where the care he requires is changing. It has to be more tailored to his every need,’ I told them. ‘And you should be in a home that is more tailored to your needs now’.”
Emma reassured her daughters by saying, “Also, Daddy would want you to have playdates, sleepovers, and more freedom than you’ve been able to have here. That would make him so happy.”
To help ease the transition, Emma described Willis’ new residence as their “second home,” according to TooFab. She envisioned it as “a place they’d keep personal things like toys, arts and crafts supplies, bathing suits, pjs, and games, and that we could go stay with him anytime they wanted.”
While this was a difficult decision to make, it seems Mabel and Evelyn understood its necessity. Emma noted, “Even though they’d lived with his disease for so long that they understood, and even though this decision ensures Bruce’s overall well-being and safety and allows our young children to thrive, it was an uncertain and painful time for us.”
She continued, “In fact, it’s still painful for me. After all, this is my husband, and having him in another home was not part of the future we’d mapped out together. You really can’t dream this stuff up.”
For those affected by dementia or Alzheimer’s and seeking confidential support, the Alzheimer’s Association is available at 800.272.3900, 24/7.