"In my father's case, the loss of his 45-year marriage partner, whom he had cared for devotedly in her final years, left him struggling. His retirement had not brought the contentment it had promised, and no number of visits from his children could dispel his loneliness. He had little in the way of a social circle - another factor that differentiates older men from women, who tend to be better socially connected."

This actually hits really close to home with my own Grandmother. She lived 11 years longer than my granddad, but she never was truly the same after he passed away. My mother (her daughter) and their siblings did all they could to help, but all of her kids were spread throughout the US (due to most being pretty successful people). She also didn't have much of a social circle until she went into assisted living, which I actually think was really good for her. She was able to meet folks and socialize, and they forced her to go out and do things. But I don't think it did too much to help her loneliness from losing my grandad. She didn't die from suicide, but I think at one point she just lost the will to live, which I think that finally took her.

I don't have answer to that. I also think about it with my own mom and dad. She is bound to lose her husband (or he her) within the next few decades, and I don't want to see her have the same downward spiral I saw in my grandma.