Bruce Willis has faced many challenges through his battle with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and the actor now requires around-the-clock care to meet his needs.
The decision came after the 70-year-old displayed difficulty adjusting to noises around the house. He was more comfortable in the other home, which provided a safe space for his 24-hour care team to help him navigate his needs.
“He would want them to be in a home that was more tailored to their needs, not his needs.”
The couple tied the knot in 2009 and share two daughters together, Mabel, 13, and Evelyn, 11. Willis has three other daughters from his previous marriage to actress Demi Moore.
Despite having to make the difficult decision, Heming Willis notes that by giving Willis his own space, their blended family and friends are able to visit freely in a safe environment that brings him joy.
“We are there a lot,” she said. “It’s our second home, so the girls have their things there.
“It is a house that is filled with love and warmth and care and laughter, and it’s been beautiful to see that, to see how many of Bruce’s friends continue to show up for him, you know, they bring in life and fun.”
“The language is going, and, you know, we’ve learned to adapt,” she told Sawyer. “We have a way of communicating with him, which is just a … different way.”
Similar to aphasia, FTD can lead to deterioration in “behavior, personality and/or difficulty with producing or comprehending language.”
The condition affects 50,000 to 60,000 people in the United States, most of them between the ages of 45 and 65.