Demi Moore Opens Up on Bruce Willis' Heartbreaking Dementia Journey

Demi Moore Spills Tea on Bruce Willis's Dementia Battle: "He's Still Very Much Here"

In a candid conversation with Oprah Winfrey, Demi Moore opened up about her experience watching her ex-husband Bruce Willis struggle with dementia. The actress, 62, shared her perspective on the challenges of caring for someone with frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and praised her former husband's primary caregiver, Emma Heming.

According to sources close to the couple, Bruce's FTD diagnosis has caused a significant decline in his cognitive abilities, including language skills. However, Emma, 47, revealed that her husband is still very mobile and that they've developed a unique way of communicating with him despite his condition.

Demi, who was married to Bruce from 1987 to 2000, has been vocal about the challenges of caring for someone with dementia. In an interview on Oprah's podcast, she shared her thoughts on how to navigate this complex situation: "It's difficult. It’s hard to see somebody who was so vibrant and strong and so directed shift into this other part of themselves."

However, Demi emphasized the importance of meeting loved ones where they're at, rather than expecting them to be their old selves. She shared an anecdote about a recent visit with Bruce: "When you show up to meet them where they're at, there is great beauty and sweetness."

Demi's comments came as Emma Heming spoke candidly about the realities of caring for her husband in an upcoming memoir, The Unexpected Journey. In it, Emma reveals that one of the hardest decisions she made was moving Bruce into a separate house with a full-time care team.

The move was met with criticism from some online, but Emma defended her decision, stating that it was necessary to prioritize Bruce's needs and provide him with the best possible care. She also spoke about the importance of caregivers taking care of themselves, saying: "If they don’t put that time into making sure that they’re okay, then they can’t show up for anyone else."

Demi praised Emma's dedication to caring for her husband, saying: "I have so much compassion for Emma in this. She’s done a masterful job." The actress also emphasized the need for caregivers to prioritize their own well-being, stating: "You have to be in real deep acceptance of what that is. But for where he's at, he's stable."

Meanwhile, sources close to the family have revealed that Bruce has been surrounded by his loved ones throughout this ordeal. His blended family, including Demi and their daughters Rumer, 37, Scout, 34, and Tallulah, 31, as well as Emma and their two youngest children Mabel, 13, and Evelyn, 11, have all rallied around him to provide support.

However, not everyone has been supportive. A friend of the family revealed that some online critics have accused Emma of being "selfish" for moving Bruce into a separate house. But Emma has pushed back against these claims, stating: "I was judged quickly and unfairly. People with an opinion versus people with an actual experience."

As the news of Bruce's condition spreads, fans are showing their support for the beloved actor. Glenn Gordon Caron, who created Bruce's iconic 1980s sitcom Moonlighting, recently spoke out about his friend's decline: "My sense is the first one to three minutes he knows who I am. He’s not totally verbal; he used to be a voracious reader - he didn’t want anyone to know that - and he’s not reading now."

Despite the challenges ahead, Demi remains optimistic about Bruce's situation, saying: "He's still very much here." With the support of his loved ones and caregivers like Emma, fans are holding onto hope for Bruce's recovery. As Demi so eloquently put it: "There is great beauty and sweetness when you show up to meet them where they're at."

Additional Sources:

• The Unexpected Journey (Emma Heming's memoir)
• People Magazine
• The New York Post
• Oprah Winfrey's podcast