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‘Carers need care, too’: Bruce Willis’s wife speaks out after deaths of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa

Emma Heming Willis, who is primary carer for the actor since his dementia diagnosis in 2023, says there is ‘a broader story’ to tell about their plight

His Alzheimer’s disease led investigators to suspect he may have remained unaware his wife had died, and was evidently unable to summon help. Speaking on Instagram, Heming Willis, 46, said she hoped the tragic deaths of the couple and one of their dogs would prompt people to reflect on the “broader story”. The circumstances of Hackman’s death have substantially affected the legacy of one of Hollywood’s most venerated stars, with his and Arakawa’s plight highlighting the obstacles faced by vulnerable elderly people and those who seek to look after them.

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