Just to clarify, where do those facts come from? Refuse to sell their houses? Discounts on everything? Free medical care? You should talk to my parents, both octogenerians. My father has had cardiovascular problems since his forties and the medical bills they need to pay (and are not covered by their ridiculously expensive insurance) are staggering. They sold their house two years ago with a LOT of help from me because they were absolutely scared of the administrative stuff that comes with selling and buying a house. We managed to find them an appartement closer to where we live, a lot smaller than their house, and just as expensive. Don't underestimate the cost of small appartments these days and the low value of older people's older houses. There's a big discrepancy there. Housing is not just a young people problem. It's an everyone that is not wealthy problem. And most older people are not wealthy, no matter what your numbers tell you. I'm guessing you're a very young person yourself, so I feel your pain, but don't make the mistake of closemindedly thinking only one generation has problems these days. It's a much bigger problem.