A study carried out in East Anglia identified a number of aspects of the lives of elderly people living alone and some of these are reported here. A sample of 2000 elderly people from 20 general practitioner practices was selected for interview. Overall, there was a response rate of 88 per cent. Of those age 75 and over, 43 per cent lived alone, this proportion being higher in urban areas, in council, privately rented and sheltered housing and amongst women. There is a high level of informal support for elderly people living alone, although there is also a large number who do not have regular frequent visitors. Of the statutory services, home helps visit nearly a quarter of those aged 75 and over living alone, on a weekly basis. In terms of at least one activity of daily living, shopping, those living alone exhibit a higher level of independence than those living with others, but nearly a quarter of those aged 75 and over living alone do rely on someone else entirely to do their shopping for them. The study identified a number of aspects of ill health in elderly people. There was a substantial proportion with urinary incontinence and, amongst those aged 75 and over living with others, a significant proportion with a degree of faecal incontinence. There was also a high proportion of people unable to cut their own toenails.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)