Bruce Willis – the action hero who once defined blockbuster cinema – now faces his most poignant role: living with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) at age 70. According to his wife, Emma Heming Willis, the Die Hard star has relocated to a nearby, one-story residence tailored to his health needs, staffed with round-the-clock caregivers. Though removed from the family home, the move ensures both his safety and consistent contact with loved ones.

A tailored living arrangement for specialized care

In the emotional ABC special, “Emma and Bruce Willis: The Unexpected Journey”, Emma shared that her husband now resides in a dedicated single-story home equipped to minimize environmental stressors that could worsen his symptoms. The facility offers 24/7 professional care in a calm setting — designed to better accommodate both his condition and the stability of their daughters, Mabel  and Evelyn 

Emma acknowledged this was one of the hardest decisions she’s ever had to make. But she believed Bruce would have wanted this for their children — creating a home that prioritized the kids’ needs, not the limitations imposed by his dementia 

Facing public reaction with empathy and purpose

News of Bruce’s separate living arrangement sparked backlash from critics—but Emma responded with grace: “The opinions are so loud and noisy. If they haven’t walked in a caregiver’s shoes, they don’t get a vote or a say.” She emphasized that sharing their intimate family struggle wasn’t meant to solicit judgment, but to foster awareness of FTD, recognize the emotional complexity caregivers face, and build a supportive community. Her forthcoming memoir, The Unexpected Journey: Finding Strength, Hope and Yourself on the Caregiving Path, expands on these themes 

Dementia’s impact: losing speech, reading, mobility

Reports indicate Bruce’s FTD has advanced significantly — he is now reportedly unable to speak, read, or walk unaided. This stark decline challenges the iconic memory of him as a confident, agile action star, but illustrates the severity of his neurological battle 

Family love remains unwavering

Despite living separately, Bruce remains surrounded by love. Emma and his young daughters visit daily, sharing meals and moments of connection. His older daughters — Rumer, Scout, and Tallulah — from his marriage to Demi Moore, also remain an important part of the caregiving circle. Their visits bring warmth, laughter, and a sense of home 

Emma poignantly shared: “I don’t need him to know I am his wife... I just want to feel that connection — and I do.” 

In summary

Bruce Willis — once Hollywood’s ultimate action hero — now navigates a vastly different reality. His family chose proximity over proximity, love over comfort, ensuring he receives expert care while preserving the emotional bonds that define them. Their story transcends tragedy; it is a testament to family resilience, caregiving courage, and profound love amid illness.

Bruce Willis’ Wife Says They Are Now Living Separately Amid Dementia Battle

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Bruce Willis has been moved into a separate home, according to his wife Emma Heming Willis, amid his two-year battle with dementia.

Heming, 47, expressed that it was “one of the hardest decisions” she’s had to make during her time as a caregiver for Willis, whom she’s been married to since 2009. She explained that this choice wasn’t just for Willis, 70, but also for their two children—Mabel, 13, and Evelyn, 11.

“Bruce would want that for our daughters,” she said. “He would want them to be in a home that was more tailored to their needs, not his needs.”

But the former model said she still brings their children over to Willis’ home, which is close to their own house, “a lot” for breakfast and dinner. The Die Hard actor now lives with a full-time team of caregivers at his new one-story home.

Bruce Willis and Emma Heming Willis wearing dress by Bottega Veneta attend Motherless Brooklyn premiere during 57th New York Film Festival at Alice Tully Hall. / Pacific Press / Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images

Willis stepped away from acting in March 2022 following an aphasia diagnosis, which was announced by ex-wife Demi Moore, with whom he shares three children: Rumer, 37, Scout, 34, and Tallulah, 31.

Almost a year later, Willis was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) in Feb. 2023, which is an aggressive form of the disease found often in younger people, with it most commonly being diagnosed in people in their 50s to 60s, according to the Alzheimer’s Association.

Symptoms include issues with language and personality changes, such as a lack of empathy. “Suddenly, the person that you’re living with has no empathy or concern for you or your family,” said Dr. Bruce Miller, a professor of neurology at UCSF and a leading expert on the condition, in an interview with ABC News.

(L-R) Rumer Willis, Demi Moore, Bruce Willis, Scout Willis, Emma Heming Willis and Tallulah Willis in 2019. / Stefanie Keenan / Getty Images for goop

Early signs for Willis included reacquiring a stutter from his childhood and becoming more reserved, which was uncharacteristic for the outgoing action star.

“For someone who was very talkative and very engaged, he was just a little more quiet and when the family would get together, he would kind of just melt a little bit,” Heming said.

Another common symptom is issues with mobility, which Heming clarified Willis doesn’t have. “Bruce is still very mobile. Bruce is in really great health overall, it’s just his brain that is failing him,” she said.

These revelations come as Heming promotes a memoir detailing her journey caring for Willis: The Unexpected Journey: Finding Strength, Hope and Yourself on the Caregiving Path, which has a Sept. 9 release date.