In general the world is getting older. Previously, while individuals may have lived into advanced stages of life, their numbers and proportion the total population were not high. In all societies the mores prescribe some mutual responsibility within the family as between old people and their adult children saving for old age appears to be a near universal desire and effort even if it is not always successful all societies value life and seek to prolong it even in old age. Elderly make up a smaller proportion of the population but there numbers are growing much faster.
Most countries have age discrimination laws but the enforcement varies.
Even in the US, age discrimination is difficult to prove. The ADEA prohibits an employer from treating an employee age 40 or over differently than an employee under 40 because of an employee's age. Despite this market being very attractive, few businesses are marketing to it. You need to understand that the mature mind differs from the younger mind.