Dad is a private man, showing a brave face but crumbling inside. He is lost without Mom, grieving and lonely. He goes to work three evenings a week, and this helps maintain his sense of self, but as he was Mom's main carer throughout her illness, he is struggling to find his identity now. He has friends and social things to do, and has set about putting down a routine of things to do on certain days.
But there is no getting away from the empty house, the constant struggle to provide nutritious meals, making sure he doesn't descend into a chaotic mess. I feel mean that I do inspections of the fridge, the toilets, his bank accounts, but these things Mom did throughout their almost 45 years of marriage.
I watched Esther Rantzen talking about this very issue last week. She still misses her husband ten years after he passed away, Mom has only been gone 10 weeks. We've got a long way to go. At least, we are open with each other and I have let him know that I know he is struggling with his grief. I have told him about bereavement counselling (for example Cruse) and he is talking to his GP, too.
These websites both deal with loneliness and make suggestions about things to do and who to talk to about loneliness.
Please keep us in your thoughts.