We value wealth, status and power in our society - or I presume we do as you only need to read threads about DCs aiming for A* results and the angst surrounding that, and private schooling, to see that getting our DCs into a wealth, status, power job is seen as v important. (OK they might also go into a caring role but many parents are aiming for the above for their DCs - I am making a point, I don't want to hear about your superbrainy DCs who are careworkers in Africa for a pittance ).
Therefore 'the old' or 'the elderly' (not old as an adjective) are the opposite of this, taking from society in their pensions and health needs and not contributing, though many will pay tax, hence low status and lack of respect from society. Maybe we need to flag up what old people do do, many work on beyond retirement, and many in caring roles, GCs and their parents, their partners, many doing unpaid voluntary work. Perhaps publicising more widely the financial savings they are making to society/ the NHS would improve the image.
But on the other hand, I listened to Esther Rantzen talking about Silverline, many thousands of old people are lonely. There we are again, huge headlines about these needy elderly/ old (though a few were young)
If you are alone and house bound all family at a distance you will be lonely. But if your DCs have grown up and moved away, you no longer work, but you are fit, is it really someone else's responsibility to sort your loneliness? I am not meaning to criticize people who are lonely, rather to point out the negative media coverage of the elderly/ old people/ old and raise a point for discussion.