Grim Old Days: Pat Thane's History of Old Age

It is probably one of the most remarkable achievements of Western civilization that old individuals can live rather fulfilling lives and don't have to worry much about the next day.

In times past, often older individuals were expected to die off and not hang around anymore and be a burden.

Caveat: I did not read the whole article.

"Summary: Pat Thane’s book explores the harsh realities faced by the elderly in pre-industrial societies, including early aging, high mortality rates, and widespread elder abuse. The book reveals that old age, often accompanied by physical disability and poverty, was generally marked by isolation, familial neglect, and societal contempt. Thane’s volume challenges the romanticized notion that the elderly were once universally respected, showing that industrialization brought both longer lifespans and improved intergenerational relationships."

Grim Old Days: Pat Thane's History of Old Age - Human Progress "He who has made himself dependent on his children for bread and suffers from want, he shall be knocked dead by this club."