After learning that her husband, Bruce Willis, had frontotemporal dementia, Emma Heming Willis is doing all she can to educate herself on the condition.
On Monday, the 44-year-old posted a picture on Instagram with dementia education and care expert Teepa Snow. Emma thanked the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration for assisting her through Bruce’s condition.
“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.”
“@emmahemingwillis has done a 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 replied in the comments.
“Frontotemporal dementia is never easy, but with the right programming and support, it is possible to continue living. Congrats to Emma and their entire family for their hard work and dedication. It is truly remarkable!”
Bruce, 67, was identified earlier this month as having frontotemporal dementia. According to Emma, Bruce’s condition has worsened since his family first learned of his aphasia diagnosis last year.
“Unfortunately, Bruce’s communication problems are only one sign of his illness. Despite the discomfort, it is a relief to receive a definitive diagnosis, “She spoke.
Emma added in her full statement, “Bruce always believed in using his voice in the world to help others and raise awareness about critical public and private issues.
We know in our hearts that – if he could today — he would want to respond by bringing global attention and connectedness with those also dealing with this debilitating disease and how it impacts so many individuals and their families.”
A set of neurological conditions that affect the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain are referred to as frontotemporal dementia.
This implies that some of these lobes shrink, and the shrinkage of these areas might result in speech impairments, emotional troubles, and personality changes.
Loss of motor skills, such as walking, swallowing, or muscle spasms, might be another indication. Over time, symptoms frequently deteriorate.
Individuals usually start to have symptoms between the ages of 40 and 65, which can also affect younger people. For those under 60, it is the most typical type of dementia.
Since the Die Hard actor’s diagnosis, his family — Emma, their children, Mabel, 10, and Evelyn, 8, ex-wife Demi Moore and their children Rumer Willis, 34, Scout Willis, 31, and Tallulah Willis, 29 — have been focused on helping him “live as full a life as possible,” according to a statement from the family.
“The focus for Bruce is to keep him active. He has a busy schedule with activities every day. They make sure both his body and brain are exercised,” a family source recently told PEOPLE.
“The family is all closer than ever,” the source said, adding that Emma is trying to make as many positive memories for Mabel and Evelyn as possible. “She wants them to remember Bruce as an amazing, fun dad. She wants them to have the best memories of him.”
For almost 4 years, Jason Martin has been a freelance writer for newspapers, journals, blogs, books, and online material. He covers the most recent news as well as many other topics.