Hi Dan,
Almost everybody has a small government pension, Social Security, but for MANY old people, it is not enough to live on. So they rely on government subsidized housing. But then the corporation comes in, and gets the laws changed so the old people can no longer afford the housing. The corporations can also make promises to the old people about low rent, but there are now laws so that the corporation can change its mind and break the promise even if it is in writing.
The government also has food programs for the elderly, but the food is often poor quality. And many old person need special diets for their health, but cannot get it.
And no, health care is not free. There is government health insurance for old people, called Medicare, but Medicare has deductibles and co-payments which old people must pay, and is very expensive so elderly cannot afford it.
In the past, the adult children would help their elderly parents, but now the working people are so desperate that the old poor people are still trying to help their grown children and grandchildren.