Powerful essay. The distinction between the Third and Fourth Ages is smething policymakers avoid precisely because the Fourth Age exposes how badly we've designed the system. I've watched family members navigate this, and what really gets me is how caregiving becomes this invisible tax on (mostly) women's later years. The years after caregiving are suposed to be freedom, but by then the energy's gone. Feels like we built a longevity infrastructure around extending lifespans but ignored the question of what makes a long life actualy worth living.