Bruce Willis now seeing dementia specialist following heartbreaking diagnosis

Bruce Willis’ wife, Emma Heming Willis, is on a mission to give her husband the best quality of life following his devastating frontotemporal dementia (FTD) diagnosis.

On Monday, February 27, the 44-year-old mother of two took to Instagram to share that she is now working alongside dementia care and education specialist Teepa Snow, to learn how to navigate the challenging condition.

 

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“I’m grateful I had the opportunity to work with @teepasnows_pac who has helped me add to my dementia care toolbox,” she wrote.

“She’s a loving, compassionate and skilled leader in this space who navigates herself with pure empathy. She’s a gift. Head to the link in my bio as her website has a wealth of caregiving information you might find useful too #dementiaawareness #ftdawarness #EndFTD #EveryFTDStoryCounts.”

Snow then took to the comment section to praise Emma for her strength and unwavering support for her husband.

“@emmahemingwillis has done an absolutely remarkable job of providing the right support for Bruce as his abilities have changed and created a place space and life that continues to provide him with what he needs to live well,” Snow wrote.

“Frontal temporal dementia is never easy but with the right programming and support, it truly is possible to continue living life. Congrats to Emma and their entire family for their very very hard work and dedication. It is truly remarkable!”

In May 2022, Emma opened up about her mental health struggles following the announcement of her husband’s initial aphasia diagnosis.

Emma admitted her over-exhausted efforts to cater to everyone’s needs fell short of “serving” both her family and herself.

“I put my family’s needs above my own, which I found does not make me any kind of hero,” Emma said.

“That amount of care for everyone else within my household had taken a toll on my mental health and overall health. And it served no one in my family.”

She went on to share touching advice someone had once given her, revealing the words had really influenced her to take a stance in ensuring her own health was never undervalued.

“Someone told me not long ago that when you over-care for someone, you end up under-caring for yourself,” Emma revealed.

“That stopped me in my tracks and really resonated with me.”

Fortunately, Bruce’s blended family – which includes his ex-wife Demi Moore and their three daughters Rumer, Scout, and Tallulah – have also come together in an effort to help the 67-year-old “live as full a life as possible”.

Bruce’s FTD diagnosis was announced in early February, nearly a year after announcing his retirement from acting due to struggles with aphasia.

According to the Australian Frontotemporal Dementia Association (AFTDA), those diagnosed with FTD are between the ages of 45 to 65, with a small portion of people experiencing the symptoms as late as 70 years or older.

In Australia, an estimated 3,500 to 11,500 Australians have been diagnosed with FTD. And though dementia is one of the country’s more serious health issues, advancements in research and medicine have shown positive signs in finding ways to decrease the rate of cognitive decline.