It seems that way sometimes. It's hard to see, but it's actually slowly getting better.

Before social security it was pretty common for old folks to just starve or be homeless. SS was established in 1935. There are people alive today that could probably tell those kinds of horrible stories.

That doesn't make this man's situation any less awful.

It's possible to build a world where the benevolence of children isn't required for an old man to retire. But it's going to take time and effort to get there.

Look for the helpers. They actually need more help to bring about meaningful change.