Among elderly couples, according to Harvard University sociologists, men are 22 percent more likely to die shortly after the death of a spouse, compared with 17 percent for women.

I've had at least three bereaved spouses who've fractured a hip within a week of their loved one's death, one at the funeral of the spouse.

They may want to preserve their assets for their children in the event of their death rather than having a large amount go to a second spouse who survives them.