Emma Heming Willis Shares Holiday Insights Amid Bruce Willis’ Dementia
Emma Heming Willis has opened up about how her family celebrates holidays in the wake of her husband Bruce Willis’ dementia diagnosis. Speaking to People on November 27, 2023, she provided insight into the adaptations they have made during festive occasions like Thanksgiving and Christmas. “Bruce loved Christmas and we love celebrating it with him. It just looks different, so we’ve kind of adapted to that,” she explained at the End Well 2025 conference held in Los Angeles.
Heming Willis emphasized the importance of creating new memories while still honoring cherished traditions. “You have to learn and adapt and make new memories, bring in the same traditions that you had before,” she said. Her perspective reflects a commitment to finding joy amid the challenges posed by dementia. “Life goes on. 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,” she added, underscoring that her family continues to experience laughter and happiness.
Bruce Willis was initially diagnosed with aphasia, a language disorder, in March 2022. By early 2023, his family confirmed that he had progressed to frontotemporal dementia, a condition that affects communication, behavior, and mobility. Rumer Willis, Bruce’s daughter with ex-wife Demi Moore, shared a health update about her father during an Instagram Q&A. Responding to a fan’s inquiry, she acknowledged, “The truth is that anybody with FTD is not doing great. But he’s doing OK in terms of somebody who’s dealing with frontotemporal dementia.”
Despite the challenges, Rumer expressed gratitude for the moments they still share. “I’m so happy and grateful that I still get to go and hug him,” she said. “That I still see a spark of him, and he can feel the love that I’m giving.”
In light of Bruce’s deteriorating health, Heming Willis revealed that he moved to a second home equipped with a full-time care team. She described this as one of the most challenging decisions she has faced. “But I knew, first and foremost, 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,” she stated during an ABC special titled *Emma and Bruce Willis: The Unexpected Journey – A Diane Sawyer Special*, which aired in August.
In her memoir, *The Unexpected Journey: Finding Strength, Hope, and Yourself on the Caregiving Path*, released in September, Heming Willis discussed how this transition has positively impacted their family. She noted that receiving help, whether at home or in a community-based setting, allowed her to reconnect with her role as Bruce’s wife.
Heming Willis reflected, “It took me some time to see it that way and reframe it rather than sitting in the guilt.” She expressed her appreciation for the care team and acknowledged that this support has enabled her to cherish the fleeting moments spent with Bruce. “I’m forever grateful that I get to enjoy Bruce again as his wife and that our kids have their mom back,” she concluded, highlighting the resilience and love that continue to define their family’s journey.
