Alexandria Wyckoff
Emma Heming Willis is sharing her story as a caregiver for Bruce Willis, and how it taught her how to prioritize her own health.
Creating Make Time Wellness
Model and entrepreneur Heming Willis is now adding caregiver to the list.
She recently talked to People about her new role and her growing women’s health brand, Make Time Wellness. The products debuted on QVC’s The New Beauty Inside & Out.
Heming Willis said, “We are thrilled to now be a part of the QVC family. We get to really talk about the products, talk about brain health, really educate women right there in real time. I’m just really excited to spread the word about that because no one is talking to women about their brains, even our doctors.”
Heming Willis struggled with her brain health in the past, but many times her symptoms were dismissed by doctors. Now, she wants to “dig deeper and advocate for [herself] a little bit more.”
“I think as women in society, we tend to put ourselves last, and we put everyone’s needs above our own,” she added.
“And what I’ve realized is that if you are not caring for yourself, if you are not finding ways to make time for your health, your hobbies, it’s impossible to be able to care for the people that we love.”
Caring for the Caregiver
Emma Heming Willis really started getting into the brain health space after her husband Bruce Willis was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, and she added the role of caregiver to her life.
Learning more about the caregiving life, she was shocked by the statistics surrounding the health and well-being of caregivers.
“I think that 40% of caregivers aren’t making their own medical appointments and caregivers can sometimes pass before their loved ones,” she shared with People. “So that’s a reminder to keep me on track and hopefully educate people, caregiver or not, just about the importance of caring for yourself. It’s really vital.”
While caregiving is by no means easy, Heming Willis has found a new balance in her lifestyle.
“It’s really easy to get bogged down with our to-do lists and our calendars. I try to have a ‘brain break’ on my calendar. So I remember to step away from the screen, getting outside, making sure that I am checking the boxes on my brain health journey because that’s sort of how I care for myself now. I think about my brain first and the rest of my body benefits.”
Taking the time to put yourself first can be hard, but so rewarding for mental and physical health.
Strategies for Caregivers
While Emma Heming Willis has plenty of strategies that work for her when caring for Bruce Willis, there are other ways to resist burnout as a caregiver.
Finding a routine for both the caregiver and patient can decrease stress and create familiarity.
Even though you’re taking care of someone else, it’s important to take care of your own physical and mental health. This can be something as simple as exercise and hydration, or as complex as getting professional support for your mental health.
One of the most important things to remember is you’re not alone in the caregiving world. There are plenty of caregivers out there, and finding the right support team that can care for your loved one and give you a break is a must.
Dementia
Dementia is a blanket term referring to cognitive impairment that often affects daily living. This includes the memory, communication, reasoning, and behavior.
While the most prevalent disease is Alzheimer’s, there are plenty of other diagnoses, including vascular dementia and frontotemporal dementia.
As of now, there is no cure for dementia, but lifestyle changes can be used to minimize risk and promote cognitive function.
This includes prioritizing heart health, exercise, a healthy diet, staying socially active, and doing cognitive activities (reading, puzzles, developing new skills).