For those older people unable to carry out domestic tasks unaided, relatives were the usual source of help. The non-cognitive features of dementia. Early retirement has meant an increase in the amount of time couples can choose to spend with each other, ahead of some of the health changes associated with late old age. There has been a decline of joint residence between elderly parents and their adult children, a change, which gathered momentum from the 1960's onward. Husbands tend to encroach on wives personal time and space and the husband's presence begins to create different forms of domestic work for their wives.
Retirement can bring out the negative aspects of a marriage, especially for women.
Women tend to benefit less from their husband's retirement than do retiring husbands. In America, it is estimated by 2005 over half of those reaching retirement age will be divorced at least once. Remarriage is more frequent at all stages of the life span. Currently one in every three marriages involves remarriage of one partner. The remarriage rate is higher for men than for women of all ages, leading to an increased likelihood of women being alone in future years.