Yes, I'd overlooked the agegroup! I'm 53 and have a fair few older friends, and the only one who really bangs on about his ailments is a 51 year old who runs ultramarathons and is always moaning about his ligaments or stress fractures. My parents, who are in their 80s, don't talk about their health this much!
OP, yes, you have to an extent brought this on yourself by consistently choosing people you pity as socially awkward and peripheral as friends, but there's no reason why you have to spend the rest of your life dealing with the consequences. Find some new friends and spend less time with the flatulent burping brigade -- despite what Mners tend to say, it is perfectly possible to make new friends in your forties and beyond. I moved countries at 48 just before Covid, so if I can manage, it's certainly not impossible.
But this time, when you're in a situation where you're doing something you enjoy and looking around for potential friends, don't default to 'Who are the peripheral and socially awkward people?' (Is there an element there of 'Well, they're easier to approach because no one else wants to befriend them, and they'll be grateful?' My own mother does this, and she's reaping the dubious benefit, like you, of hour-long phonecalls where the other person talks and my mother just says 'Oh, really?' and 'Oh, yes?')
Think 'Who do I actually like here? Who attracts me as a personality?' And when you are getting to know them, don't continually invite them to talk about themselves and give them the idea you're a reserved and unforthcoming individual who asks nothing more than to listen. Talk about yourself. Put yourself into the conversation as something other than a silent, empathic listener. Be present.
Good luck!