Most elderly Canadians are married, and marriage both protects against morbidity and provides the best caretaker when sickness does occur. Changes in marital homeostasis after retirement may lead to illness, which in turn impacts on the marriage. The `worried wife syndrome', whereby an elderly wife worries excessively about her husband's health, and the problems of a partner (usually the wife) who adopts a `caretaker' role, are described. A framework for understanding the lifecycle of systems (i.e., the lifecyle of the individual, marriage, family life, and community) emphasizes the importance of assessment before intervention. The family physician can offer support, facilitate communication, make specific suggestions, intervene in crises, and make referrals.