Coping with a dementia diagnosis is never easy, and Bruce Willis and his family are in the thick of it right now. Weeks after sharing an update on his condition, Bruce's wife, Emma Heming, is asking for advice from those who have been there before.
Emma shared a video over the weekend asking for help.
In a heartfelt Instagram post, Emma reached out to her followers who may be dealing with something similar in their own lives, opening up about how difficult being a caregiver can be.
"If you are someone who is looking after someone who has dementia, you know how difficult and how stressful it can be, just to get them out into the world and navigate them safely — even just to get a cup of coffee," she admitted in the video.
She also asked people to share their best advice.
"To other caregivers or dementia care specialist navigating this world … Any tips or advice on how to get your loved ones out in the world safely? Please share below," she wrote in her caption.
Along with messages of support, many fellow caregivers did share their words of wisdom.
"Remember to not take anything to heart that he may say or do. When he gets stuck on one rant, redirect the conversation," one follower wrote. "Please don’t try to do this on your own. It’s ok to cry, cuz this is a tough ride."
Bruce's family shared an update on his diagnosis in February.
In a statement signed by his entire family — including his ex-wife, Demi Moore, and their children — they announced that he had finally received a more specific diagnosis.
"Since we announced Bruce’s diagnosis of aphasia in spring 2022, Bruce’s condition has progressed and we now have a more specific diagnosis: frontotemporal dementia (known as FTD)," the statement shared. "Unfortunately, challenges with communication are just one symptom of the disease Bruce faces. While this is painful, it is a relief to finally have a clear diagnosis."
Last year, Bruce stepped away from acting permanently due to his health troubles.
Almost exactly one year ago, his family revealed that Bruce had been diagnosed with aphasia, which affected his cognitive abilities and his ability to speak.
Unfortunately, that meant that his legendary, long-running acting career had to come to an end as well.
Here's hoping Emma is able to continue getting the support she needs.
It's not easy to act as a caretaker while processing what it means for a loved one to need a caretaker in the first place — not to mention the fact that Emma is also mom to their young daughters, Evelyn, 8, and Mabel, 10.
By reaching out to her community, we hope she receives some valuable feedback.
