Emma Heming Willis Opens Up About Finding Holiday Joy Amid Bruce Willis' Dementia Battle - BABEOfficial 2025

Finding Joy in the Midst of Change

Emma Heming Willis is keeping it real. At the End Well 2025 conference in Los Angeles, she laid it all out, sharing how the Willis family is navigating the holidays while facing Bruce Willis' frontotemporal dementia diagnosis.

"It's joyous. It's just different," she confided to People. Bruce, a known Christmas enthusiast, has always loved celebrating the season, and his family is dedicated to keeping that spirit alive, even if it means adapting their traditions.

"You have to learn and adapt and make new memories, bring in the same traditions that you had before," she explained. "Life goes on. It just goes on. Dementia is hard, but there is still joy in it."

The Emotional Weight of Caregiving

The Willis family knows all too well that the holiday season can feel heavier for families dealing with dementia. Yet, Emma emphasized that joy doesn’t disappear just because life has thrown an unexpected curveball. Instead, it evolves, and they evolve with it.

Adding a touch of humor to lighten the mood, Emma joked, "I think it's important to put Die Hard on because it's a Christmas movie." It's a nod to Bruce's iconic role that fans cherish.

Family and Support

Bruce and Emma share two daughters, Mabel and Evelyn, and Bruce remains close to his daughters from his marriage to Demi Moore – Rumer, Scout, and Tallulah. The family’s open support for one another has struck a chord with fans who have admired Bruce’s career over the years.

A Caregiver's Journey

Bruce's FTD diagnosis became public in 2023. It's a challenging condition affecting personality, language, and behavior well before memory loss sets in. Families often find themselves on a steep learning curve, adjusting continuously as symptoms progress.

Emma recently opened up on Maria Menounos' HealSquad podcast about the silent burdens caregivers bear. A neurologist’s warning that nearly 30 percent of caregivers pass away before their loved ones due to neglecting their own health was a wake-up call for her.

"I really needed to hear that to wake up," Emma admitted. "We are making appointments for everyone, handling, doing this... We are doing so much."

Reflecting on Bruce's Hollywood journey, Emma revealed, "I don't think that he's ever harped or thought long and hard about who he is, what he's done. I think he's just always enjoyed being an actor, entertaining people."