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this post was submitted on 19 Oct 2026
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childfree
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But that’s not the post. “Alone” is not opposed to “cared for by his kid” but to “visited by his kid”.
If and when I’ll need care, I’ll hope to have a professional but also my family and friends coming for visits. I don’t think that’s a weird sentiment. I would definitely help care for my parents and visit often but I’d never take on the full physical care for them.
It is, though. A lot of people (especially where the OOP and I come from) expect that their kids will either care for them directly in old age by moving them into their house, or fully pay for their professional care, or help pay for their care at the very least. Even "coming for visits" doesn't really qualify as the opposite of alone.
I get what you’re saying and agree that children should not be obligated to take care of their aging parents, but I have to agree with the other comment that the post is more about loneliness and your children going no-contact with you, not necessarily them taking care of you.
I live half the world away from my parents, so I literally can’t physically help them with anything. I also don’t send money or help them financially because they were smart enough to save for retirement and never expected their kids to help them. But I keep in touch with them and chat over Signal every couple of months or so.