Bruce Willis dementia home relocation is at the heart of Emma Heming Willis’s explanation for why the actor now calls a separate residence home. In a People interview on September 3, she says the transition helps create a calmer setting for his frontotemporal dementia while keeping life steady for their two daughters, Mabel and Evelyn.
A calmer setup driven by needs and routine
Emma Heming Willis, 49, described how living with frontotemporal dementia benefits from a serene backdrop, and she’s focused on preserving normalcy for their children.
requires a calm and serene atmosphere,
she told People, emphasizing that a quieter space can reduce stress for Bruce and his family. The decision to relocate Bruce Willis, 70, into a second home was framed as a way to balance care with everyday life for the kids, who already navigate school, friendships, and activities.
“We have two young children, and it was just important that they had a home that supported their needs and that Bruce could have a place that supported his needs … The kids can have playdates and sleepovers [again] and not have to walk around tiptoeing,”
The couple’s choices reflect guidance from dementia groups about minimizing sensory overload. The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration notes that loud sounds, bright lights, or hectic group activities can overwhelm someone with FTD, sometimes triggering hostile behavior. This context helps explain why a separate home can be part of a broader strategy to maintain calm and safety for everyone in the family.
Creating space for normal family life and memories
Heming Willis has described the second home as a way to safeguard moments that matter to their daughters. She explained that Mabel and Evelyn have left belongings at Willis’s main residence to keep memories connected with their dad, while the family still visits for meals and shared activities.
We have two young children, and it was just important that they had a home that supported their needs … The kids can have playdates and sleepovers [again] and not have to walk around tiptoeing,
she conveyed to the outlet, underscoring the desire to let kids be kids within a supportive framework. She also noted that Bruce receives round-the-clock care from an at-home team she hired and that friends drop by, helping preserve a sense of routine and companionship in his day-to-day life.
Everything just feels a lot calmer, more at ease now,
The move is part of a broader picture of ongoing care and connection. Heming Willis has spoken about balancing privacy with family closeness, and she has stressed that the arrangement is about doing what’s right for their family dynamic, even if it means living separately. She also shared that Bruce’s communication is impacted by the disease, and the family is working on ways to connect without relying on words. The couple has also discussed their journey publicly, including appearances surrounding The Unexpected Journey — a Diane Sawyer Special on ABC, which highlighted their path and the support network around them.
Care, communication, and the road ahead
As the family navigates this stage of Bruce Willis’s condition, Emma Heming Willis has emphasized the value of daily life that feels balanced and hopeful. She described her partnership with a home-care team that provides continuous support and noted that, despite the heartbreak of living in separate homes, the move has opened new ways for Bruce to experience life with his family. She urged others to consider what works best for their own family dynamics and to prioritize care and connection over outside judgment.
In conversations about the future, Heming Willis has remained pragmatic about the progression of frontotemporal dementia. While FTD has no cure and can worsen over time, the speed and manner of decline vary from person to person. The emphasis remains on maintaining a calm home environment, sustaining meaningful interaction, and cherishing moments when family and friends share meals, stories, and quiet, wordless connection. Sometimes love does not need words,
I can just sit there with Bruce and look at him, and we look at each other, and we laugh and smile, and that to me is more than anything.
