The elderly are just old children who made it to where the young aspire to be.

I tend to steer clear of the very ancient and the very young. I do not care what this may say about me ...but mewling infants and very old obnoxious people unnerve me.
That said...lol...Between the ages of 14-17 I spent my summers taking care of my grandmother in her home.
Oh you should have seen her home! It was a work of art and I miss it more than I miss some people! Built in the late 1930's, it sat on top of a little hill in the Wilshire district in Los Angeles. It had a large, lush lawn that sloped down to a street that was divided by a wide swath of green, the last remnant of the street car days in that area.
But my grandmother required live in help, and it was a good summer job for me. She couldn't walk and her hands were horribly disfigured by arthritis and so needed help with day to day living. She was a lady. I was taught how to act and dress like a lady. I learned things I'll probably never practise, yet still grateful for the knowledge. How to set a table. Etiquette in general social gatherings, etc. How to fold a fitted sheet!
But our talks on philosophy helped form me into the person I am today. She was spiritual, yet not religious, not christian, though I saw her play that card to fit in. If anything, that 1% doubt I set aside for that "how certain are you there are no gods" issue comes directly from her influence! I can't shake it...so I stopped trying. But she taught me to question everything. She encouraged me to read and research and we had great conversations that sometimes ran on for hours. I loved it. Soaked it up. I'd always be homesick for a couple of weeks, mope around and be a teenager. Then I'd dry it up and settle in and be sorry to leave....

I have always had the affinity of being the helpful neighbor, be it elderly, the childless (not by preference), or those with kids that didn’t have groups of friends... I tend to “take in strays” because we all should strive to be the adult you needed as a child.

Some time back , I was in hospital for a day or two . A neighbor visited me there and drove me home , when I was released .. A month or so ago , he had a stroke and was in hospital , but is now in a care center for rehabilitation . His current abilities are at about the level of a two to three year old , although I'm quite sure his mind is still at the adult level . I consulted with his wife , and picked up some puzzle books , but they proved to be too advanced for him . So before my next visit , I got a coloring book and colored pencils . This seemed to be the right level , at his current condition . I can make him smile and laugh , and challenge him when he's in therapy , which he seems to enjoy . Everyone goes through some tough patches , and friends can be a great help . The younger generations may be too involved with their own lives to have time to care about the older generations , but that doesn't mean those of us in the older generations , can't help one another .

I had a neighbor in Warners New York. Her name was Mrs. Bradchaw. Her husband passed 10 years before I met her. I was 5 years old. She would make hot chocolate for the kids using the hill behind her home for sledding. She was a quiet woman with old-school grace. No shortage of smiles from her. Great lady.

I never had your experience @Leutrelle but I certainly had a couple of elderly neighbour's who were sociable with me. I remember returning home for a visit after 10 years and I got a message that one would like to say hello. She would have been in her nineties by then still living on her own and lived until she was 100. Now I just have a frequently problematical 90 year old Dutchman whose children do little for him. Only 2 days ago I had to phone the ambulance service from 1200 kilometers away to make sure they got the message before he collapsed. He had a nose bleed and agreed that his house looked like the abatoir slaughter room. He stated that the Ambos were very conscientious in cleaning the copious blood from his face and neck prior to taking him into emergency.