05/26/2022
With Father's Day around the corner, I'm reminded of a conversation with a colleague about his 95 year old Uncle who had to bury his 48 year old wife.
We know women outlive men but that isn't always the case.
The uncle thought he had someone in his life to take care of him, but she passed away from a heart attack.
The uncle grieved so heavily that he neglected himself and his home. He would wander the streets a night and the police had to be called to return him him to an empty house.
One night he was found beaten up in an ally. When the authorities went to his home they found hoarding trash and debris everywhere.
The uncle ended up in a rehabilitation center. With nurturing and care he's regained his health and wants to return home, but his family fears a return to the same conditions.
Check on your loved ones! You never know what they are going through.
In the United States, women tend to outlive men. That's why you find plenty of articles on helping a widow, but little on how to help a widower.