Widowhood associated with disability
Elderly men from Finland, The Netherlands and Italy who became widowed during 10 years of observation had a 2-fold greater risk of disabilities related to instrumental activities or mobility than those who did not lose their wives. Widowed men living alone had 75% fewer mobility-related disabilities and 98% fewer basic activities-related disability than those living with other adults. The associations among countries did not differ.
Observations among widowed men
In elderly men of the FINE study, duration of widowhood more or less than 5 years were studied according to household composition: living alone, with family, or in an institution. Standardized questionnaires were used for measuring different Activities of Daily Living.