I have always felt a certain empathy for the "older" ladies who venture out on thier own to go dancing at various Public dance halls and Ballrooms. And since I am an owner of such an establishment, I really get to see first hand what these lovely ladies feel like when they attend thier first dance alone.
For the most part, these ladies are usually widowed or newly divorced and very much in need of a social outlet because sitting at home alone is the worst thing to do and they know it!
If they are lucky, the ballroom they visit will have a singles section and hopefully some trained dance hosts to welcome them and make them feel comfortable. It's just not fun to go out and just sit there all night not knowing anyone. Most Ballrooms do know this and go out of thier way to do several "mixers" which helps everyone to get to know everyone else in a comfortable,no stress way. This is the main reason for so many mixers being played during the course of the night.
For those of you who might not know what a mixer is, it's a string of several songs played end on end (usually a foxtrot) where the ladies line up and the gentleman take the lady at the top of the line, dance her around the ballroom (hopefully with some pleasant conversation) and then drop her off at the end of the line and choose the next lady in line. Mixers are a great way to break the ice.
I have found, that those brave souls who force themselves to go out and try dancing soon find that it is the easiest and most pleasant way to ease themselves back into life. The exercise is a great way to get the adrenaline pumping again and it's a great excuse for dressing up like a lady, but the best part is that it makes it so easy to make new friends and perhaps even meet someone special.
Nothing could be better than to see a nervous, shy, single older woman become active,outgoing,and happy again after just a few visits to her local ballroom. Her smile alone makes it all worth while. So, in closing, if you know a new widow or divorcee (and we all do), encourage her to go dancing! It will become a blessing for her and for you!

if you know a new widow or divorcee (and we all do), encourage her to go dancing! It will become a blessing for her and for you!

An excellent idea, and the same applies for international folk dancing or any type of dance. Get her out of the house.