Emma Heming Willis has insisted "caregivers need care too" after the deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife Betsy

Authorities believe before his death, Hackman may have been alone for days in the home with his dead wife, who passed away from hantavirus pulmonary syndrome.

Emma - who is married to Bruce Willis - wrote on Instagram: "Caregivers need care too. Period. Full stop."

Reflecting on the tragic news, the Make Time Wellness Founder - whose 'Die Hard' actor husband was diagnosed with aphasia and later frontotemporal dementia (FTD) - insisted there is "some learning" from the events.

She said in a video: "So this is not something I would normally comment on, but I do really believe that there is some learning in this story."

She added: "It's just made me think of this broader story, and that is that caregivers need care too and that they are vital, and that it is so important that we show up for them so that they can continue to show up for their person...

"I think that there's this common misconception that like caregivers, they got it figured out. They 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."

Authorities were alerted to a possible emergency at the Hackmans' home when a pest control worker contacted a neighbourhood security officer after receiving no response at the property.

The officer saw the bodies through a window and called emergency services.

Gene was found in a mudroom at his home, while Betsy was discovered in a bathroom near a space heater and scattered pills, according to a search warrant affidavit.

The couple's dog, Zinna, was found deceased in a crate inside a closet, while two other dogs were found alive on the property.

A necropsy is being conducted to determine the cause of Zinna's death.

Gene, widely regarded as one of the finest actors of his generation, met Betsy while she was working part-time at a Los Angeles gym and pursuing a career in classical music.

They moved in together in Santa Fe in 1990 and married the following year.