Last September, Emma Heming Willis made the difficult decision to move her husband, Bruce Willis, into a specially equipped home as he navigates frontotemporal dementia.
Now, during a podcast appearance, the actress shared how often she visits the former actor and how the move has allowed both Bruce and their family to find stability and support.
With 24/7 care and a comfortable environment, Bruce Willis has been thriving, while Emma balances caregiving with maintaining family routines and moments of joy.
Inside Emma Heming's Daily Visits To Bruce Willis' Care Home
While speaking on the "Conversations With Cam" podcast, the 47-year-old author revealed how often she visits her 70-year-old husband, Bruce.
"All the time," she said, noting that his home is very close to her own.
The couple and their two children, daughters Mabel Ray, 15, and Evelyn Penn, 11, enjoy family meals together several times a week, and Emma often joins her husband for breakfast.
The new residence, fully staffed to meet Bruce's needs, has helped him feel more comfortable and supported.
"We are over there all the time," Emma shared. "It is our second home, and it's a place where we make memories, and that house supports Bruce's every need, 24/7, and our other home, where our kids are, now they're supported, now their needs are met, and that's worked so well for us."
She added that the "Die Hard" actor has been "thriving" in the new environment.
Emma Heming On The Difficult Decision To Move Bruce Willis Into A Care Home
Emma described moving Bruce into the home as one of the most difficult decisions during his health journey.
"It did not come easy. Caregivers are faced with really hard decisions and we have to do what is the best for our family, what's the safest for our person," she said.
Emma continued, "Bruce wouldn't want his two young daughters to be clouded by his disease. I know that. They weren't having sleepovers, play dates. We weren't inviting people over … it was a really hard time."
"The decision didn't come lightly, but it was the right one for our family. Our children are thriving, and so is Bruce, and that is the most important," the mother of two added.
Bruce Willis' Wife Says Moving The Actor Has Made It Easier For Friends And Family To Meet Him
In an earlier interview with The Sunday Times, Emma said that despite the sadness, it was the right decision for their family.
"Ultimately, I could get back to being his wife. And that's such a gift," she added.
The arrangement has also given Bruce more freedom to spend time with friends and family.
"It's made such a difference for more friends and family to have their own experience with him without it being my home," she explained.
Emma added, "Without me hovering, or my anxiety of how to manage the guest and their expectations, and then have to see their reactions - their sadness at what is."
Emma Heming Willis Talks About Bruce Willis' Experience With Dementia
During the podcast, Emma also revealed that Bruce never fully grasped that he was living with frontotemporal dementia.
She described this lack of awareness as both a relief and a challenge. "Bruce never, never tapped in," she said, expressing gratitude that he doesn't fully comprehend what's happening.
Emma explained that her husband experiences anosognosia, a neurological condition where the brain is unable to recognize its own illness.
Often mistaken for denial, she clarified that it's actually a direct symptom of the disease.
"It's where your brain can't identify what is happening to it," she said, meaning that what others might see as decline feels completely normal to him.
"People think this might be denial, like they don't want to go to the doctor because they're like, 'I'm fine, I'm fine,' actually, this is the anosognosia that comes into play," she explained. "It's not denial. It's just that their brain is changing. This is a part of the disease."
Emma Heming Willis On Finding Joy During The Holidays Despite Dementia
Even with the challenges that come with dementia, Emma focuses on finding joy in everyday moments.
At the End Well 2025 conference in November, she shared that her family still looks forward to the holidays.
"It's joyous. It's just different," Emma said, emphasizing that Christmas remains special, even if celebrations don't look the same as before.
Emma acknowledged that holidays can be especially tough for families affected by dementia. However, she stressed the value of maintaining traditions, joking that "Die Hard" still counts as a Christmas movie.
"Life goes on," she said, per People Magazine. "It just goes on. Dementia is hard, but there is still joy in it. I think it's important that we don't paint such a negative picture around dementia. We are still laughing. There is still joy. It just looks different."