Bruce Willis' Wife Reflects On Gene Hackman And Betsy Arakawa's Deaths: 'Caregivers Need Care Too'

Bruce Willis' wife, Emma Heming Willis, recently reflected on Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa's deaths, emphasizing the often-overlooked needs of caregivers.

She has been vocal about the challenges of caregiving since her husband's frontotemporal dementia diagnosis in 2023 and has defended herself against criticism.

Emma Heming Willis' latest remarks about being a caregiver come after it was revealed that Gene Hackman died a week after his wife, Betsy Arakawa, who was his caregiver.

Emma recently shared her thoughts on the tragic passing of Hackman and his wife, Arakawa, offering a perspective shaped by her own experience as a caregiver.

Emma, who cares for her husband, Bruce, acknowledged on Instagram that she typically wouldn't comment on such news.

However, she felt there was an important takeaway from their story: the often-overlooked needs of caregivers.

Reflecting on the situation, she emphasized the importance of supporting those who dedicate themselves to caring for others.

"I do really believe that there is some learning in this story. It's just made me think of this broader story, and that is that caregivers need care too and that they are vital," she explained. "It is so important that we show up for them so that they can continue to show up for their person."

She also addressed a common misconception that "caregivers [have] got it figured out."

"[People think] they've got it covered. They're good. I don't subscribe to that. I think that we need to be showing up for them so that they can continue to show up for their person," she said.

Reinforcing her message, Emma captioned her post with a simple reminder: "Caregivers need care too. Period. Full stop. #supportcaregivers."

Emma has been vocal about the challenges of caregiving ever since she revealed Bruce's frontotemporal dementia diagnosis in 2023, a year after disclosing his struggle with aphasia.

She has also defended herself against accusations that she is using Bruce's condition for attention.

In May 2023, she responded directly to such claims, saying, "I'm going to take my five minutes and I'm gonna turn it into 10 because I'm always going to advocate for my husband."

"And then I'm going to turn my grief and my anger and my sadness into something good around something that feels less than," Emma added.

Bruce's wife's recent reflections on the deaths of Hackman and Arakawa come shortly after Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza shared new details about the heartbreaking timeline of their passing.

Authorities believe that Arakawa succumbed to hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) on February 11, a rare disease transmitted by mice.

Meanwhile, Hackman, who reportedly had advanced Alzheimer's, may have remained in their home for a week without realizing she had died.

As reported by The Blast, the legendary actor passed away on February 18 because of hypertensive atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, with Alzheimer's being a contributing factor.

By February 26, Hackman and Arakawa's bodies were discovered by maintenance workers. One of the elderly couple's three dogs was also found dead.

Emma is set to speak about her journey as a caregiver in an upcoming book set to be released in 2025.

According to a statement obtained by People Magazine, the project will be published under The Open Field, a book imprint led by Maria Shriver.

Currently untitled, the book draws from Emma's experiences caring for her husband following his frontotemporal dementia (FTD) diagnosis in February 2023.

Through this book, the Make Time Wellness founder aims to offer guidance, insights, and resources for those navigating the challenges of caregiving. She hopes to empower others facing similar circumstances by sharing what she has learned along the way.

"For me knowledge is power, and building a supportive community around me has been vital," she shared in a statement. "It has brought stability and a certain amount of control back, control that was completely shattered when the diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia first came into our family's world."

Emma's upcoming book will feature expert advice, personal stories from her own journey, and interviews with professionals in the field.

Reflecting on her experience, Emma emphasized the importance of access to reliable information.

"Identifying the right resources to educate and enlighten myself has been powerful and has allowed me the space to continue to move forward in the most positive way so that I can be the best mother, wife, daughter, friend, and care partner," she shared. "I want to be able to share that with the next person who finds themselves here."

In a statement, Shriver shared that she is "thrilled to be publishing Emma's book for caregivers."

She added: "She and I have known each other for a long time, and I'm so proud of the way she is using her voice to help others."