As opposed to old women now, who have so many people that help them...Oh wait, they get put in nursing homes all the same. The husbands die before they do, so that's of no help either. Just because you have an adult child doesn't mean they're going to agree to being your caregiver. I plan on taking care of my mother of course, but it's far from a guarantee for everyone, and if she, god forbids, develops something like dementia or some other very disabling condition it might be that I won't be able to look after her. So, sad as it is, this is not an issue that's unique to childless old people.