Table I.

Demographic and few defining characteristics of participants

	Pseudonym	Age	Other defining characteristics	Residence characteristics
1	Nwakego	90	Frail and weak, unable to do farm work	Alone, away from relatives, depends on charity
2	Mgbeke	86	Frail and weak, unable to do farm work but prepares her meals	Parents’ homestead but away from relatives, depends on charity
3	Chinasa	67	Subsistence farmer	Parent’s homestead but lives alone
4	Christiana	72	Old and frail, Blind, weak	Brother’s homestead
5	Rebecca	65	Active, but with severe arthritis and unable to move about	Parents homestead; Lives with brother and relatives,
6	Ugonwa	57	Subsistence farmer	Lives alone
7	Regina	46	Petty trader	Lives alone
8	Dinma	66	Subsistence farmer	Lives alone
9	Dorcas	72	Weak and frail	Lives alone in her brother’s homestead
10	Nkechi	68	Sick and frail	Lives in the brother’s homestead
11	Mary	61	Subsistence farmer	Lives alone in isolation