The Film: We are in the early preparation stages for a short form documentary called Me without You. The film will be composed of interviews with women aged 55 and over who will be asked to reflect upon losing their spouses and how they coped with this life-altering event. Our goal is to make a film that provides some insight into this growing phenomenon and perhaps offer some perspective for those currently struggling with grief and isolation.

The Inspiration: My grandparents were married for 48 years. When I was 11-years-old, my grandfather died. After his death, I watched my grandmother, a woman whose life had been defined by her roles as mother and wife, contend with the incredible grief and disorientation of this catastrophic loss. I don’t think she ever recovered, nor was she able to redefine herself as an individual.

The situation my grandmother faced is not uncommon. Researching the statistics, we found that most women who marry will be widowed. In fact, the percentage of older women living alone exceeds that of men in every age group. Between the ages of 65 and 74, 77% of women living alone are widows, and a woman who becomes widowed at 65 lives, on average, another 19.1 years (AARP, 1994). This trend is expected to increase, as women have a greater life expectancy and tend to marry men older than themselves.

Reference Material:
“The Transition From Wife to Widow” by R. Burkhauser, K. Holden and D. Myers
Study from the AOA
Widowhood Statistics from Seniors-Site.com

* * * * *

We want to hear your story. If you are interested in participating in our project, please email us using the form below or via contact@mercerlunden.com.

Thanks,
Ben

•