[Antoninus]

And what about those whose children and grandchildren live thousands of miles away?

What about them? They are also quite sad, normally. And when they're in failing health, their kids aren't able to be there for them. For too many people, family is simply not a priority for them until it's too late.

They often depend on friends,and it works just fine for them.

That has not been my observation. Friends are able to walk away very easily when an elderly person really needs help. And often times, the friends themselves are too elderly to assist.

[Mears]

“For too many people, family is simply not a priority for them until it’s too late.”

—

Many of these kids went across the country when they were in their 20s,their parents in their 40s-———old age was not a concern to any of them.

It often has nothing to do with priorities,it has to do with jobs.