Bruce Willis’ wife, Emma Heming, shared a powerful conversation with Gertrude Jordan, a dementia coach, who advised her on caring for a loved one with amnesia.
While chatting via video chat on Tuesday, the 44-year-old model, who announced in February that her husband suffers from frontotemporal dementia, asked for advice on how to deal with the “heavy burden” of the carer.
After reflecting on the effort of asking others for help, the mother-of-two said she learns “people really want to help,” but doesn’t always know what tasks to give them.
Jordan suggested allowing members of her community to step in and occasionally “release” her from duties, such as driving to a doctor’s appointment or having someone else sit with her partner for 30 minutes while she focuses on self-care .
She went on to empathize with Heming’s struggle to make family members and friends “nervous” to come over and call.
Speaking up: Bruce Willis’ wife, Emma Heming, shared a powerful conversation with Gertrude Jordan, a dementia coach, who advised her on caring for a loved one with amnesia
Struggling: While chatting via video chat on Tuesday, the 44-year-old model, who announced her husband was suffering from frontotemporal dementia in February, asked for advice on how to cope with the ‘heavy burden’ of carer
“It doesn’t make sense to see the person they knew in a different state… that can be a little tricky,” Heming said of her situation at home.
To maintain a positive mindset, Heming says she starts her day with gratitude and focuses on the things she would like to accomplish and make time for in the morning.
Before going to bed, the star works on “turning the script” and never getting stuck in the “doom and gloom.”
When asked directly how she was doing, Emma replied, “Today? Good. After talking to you, good. You know, I have my moments.’
‘It just depends. I hold on and do what I can. And turning my pain into a goal,” she continued.
In March, Heming shut down claims she used her husband’s devastating diagnosis of dementia for her own “five minutes” of fame.
Heming, who has been married to Willis, 68, since 2009, has made it her mission to raise awareness of aphasia after it came to light in March 2022 that her husband was battling the condition.
Willis, who was forced to quit his acting career, has now been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia.
New Chapter: After reflecting on the struggles of asking others for help, the mother-of-two says she’s learning “people really want to help,” but doesn’t always know what tasks to give them
Heming, who has two young children with Willis, vowed she would use the momentum her position has given her to “raise awareness” about her husband’s illness and glorify “carers, who are unsung heroes.” .
She continued, “And then I’m going to turn my sadness and my anger and my sadness into something good around something that feels less than.”
“Watch this room, because I didn’t come to play.”
Willis’ adult daughter Scout responded in a post below the video: “HELL YES! I am so proud of you!’
Another user wrote, ‘Good for you! I must confess that my previous perception of you – created solely by the paparazzi – was not exactly a woman of substance. I am so sorry for what you and your family are going through. You are truly a woman of substance and strength. I will listen and learn.’
The Willis family revealed in February that his condition had worsened, saying that while the reality is “painful, it’s a relief to finally have a clear diagnosis.”
Blended family: Willis shares Rumer, 34, Scout, 31, and Tallulah, 29, with Moore, 60, who he was married to from 1987 to 2000. He also has two daughters, Mabel, 10, and Evelyn, 8, with wife Emma , 44, aged 14
“FTD is a cruel disease many of us have never heard of and can affect anyone. For people under 60, FTD is the most common form of dementia, and because it can take years to be diagnosed, FTD is likely much more common than we know,” they added.
The statement, which was signed by Heming, Bruce’s five daughters (including Mabel, 10, and Evelyn, 8), and his ex-wife Demi Moore, added that if the action star “could” respond to his situation, he would help spread awareness and bring “global attention and connection” to others dealing with the “debilitating disease.”
Willis shares Rumer, 34, Scout, 31, and Tallulah, 29, with Moore, 60 who he was married to from 1987 to 2000. He also has two daughters, Mabel, 10, and Evelyn, 8, with wife Emma, 44, aged 14.
Aphasia, which the actor was first diagnosed with last year, can affect a person’s ability to speak, write and understand verbal and written language.
Willis’s diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia may include symptoms such as personality changes, speech difficulties, and motor impairment.
At the time, Heming said she struggled with “paralyzing” grief, saying she was “learning to live with it.”