Last September, Emma Heming Willis made the difficult decision to move her husband, Bruce Willisin a specially equipped home as he navigates frontotemporal dementia.
During a podcast appearance today, the actress opened up about how often she visits the former actor and how the move has allowed Bruce and their family to find stability and support.
With 24/7 care and a comfortable environment, Bruce Willis thrives, while Emma balances care with maintaining family routines and moments of joy.
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Inside Emma Heming’s Daily Visits to Bruce Willis’ Nursing 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 says, noting that her house is very close to his.
The couple and their two children, daughters Mabel Ray, 15, and Evelyn Penn, 11, have 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’re there all the time,” Emma shared. “It’s our second home, and it’s a place where we make memories, and this house meets all of Bruce’s needs, 24/7, and our other home, where our kids are, now they’re supported, now their needs are met, and it’s worked so well for us.”
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She added that the “Die Hard” actor is “thriving” in the new environment.
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Emma Heming on the difficult decision to move Bruce Willis to a nursing home
Emma described Bruce’s move into the house as one of the hardest decisions of her health journey.
“It hasn’t been easy. Caregivers are faced with very difficult decisions and we have to do what is best for our family, what is safest for us as a person,” she said.
Emma continued: “Bruce wouldn’t want his two young daughters to be disrupted by his illness. I know that. They didn’t have sleepovers, or play dates. We didn’t invite people over…it was a really difficult time.”
“The decision was not taken lightly, but it was the right one for our family. Our children are thriving, just like Bruce, and that’s the most important thing,” added the mother of two.
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Bruce Willis’ wife says actor’s move made it easier for friends and family to meet him
In a previous interview with Sunday timeEmma said that despite the sadness, it was the right decision for their family.
“Eventually, I could become his wife again. And that’s such a gift,” she added.
This arrangement also gave Bruce more freedom to spend time with friends and family.
“It has made such a difference for more friends and family to have their own experience with him without it being in my house,” she said.
Emma added: “Without me getting high, or my anxiety about how to manage the client and their expectations, and then having to see their reactions – their sadness at what’s happening.”
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Emma Heming Willis talks about Bruce Willis’ experience with dementia
During the podcast, Emma also revealed that Bruce never really understood that he was living with frontotemporal dementia.
She described this lack of awareness as a relief and a challenge. “Bruce has never, ever called him out,” she said, expressing gratitude that he doesn’t fully understand what’s going on.
Emma explained that her husband suffers from anosognosia, a neurological condition in which the brain is unable to recognize its own illness.
Often confused with denial, she clarifies that it is in reality a direct symptom of the disease.
“That’s where your brain can’t identify what’s happening to it,” she said, meaning what others might consider decline seems completely normal to her.
“People think it might be denial, like they don’t want to go to the doctor because they’re like, ‘I’m fine, I’m fine,’ actually it’s anosognosia that comes into play,” she explained. “It’s not a denial. It’s just that their brain is changing. It’s part of the disease.”
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Emma Heming Willis on finding joy during the holidays despite dementia
Even with the challenges of dementia, Emma is focused on finding joy in everyday moments.
At the End Well 2025 conference in November, she said her family always looked forward to the holidays.
“It’s joyful. It’s just different,” Emma said, emphasizing that Christmas remains special, even if the celebrations aren’t the same as before.
Emma acknowledged that the holidays can be particularly difficult for families affected by dementia. However, she stressed the importance of maintaining traditions, joking that “Die Hard” still counts as a Christmas movie.
“Life goes on,” she said. People Magazine. “It continues. Dementia is difficult, but there’s still joy. I think it’s important that we don’t paint such a negative picture of dementia. We still laugh. There’s still joy. It’s just different.”
