Before pensions in the West, they'd get help from other relatives, nieces and nephews most commonly or others from the extended family. If there were no relatives, usually the village or church would give some very meager charity to them, called "going on the parish", or they'd become beggars in towns.

beggars in the street.. or a walk to the closest river or lake!

They are discarded to care homes much like elderly people globally

https://www.theworldofchinese.com/2026/01/china-elder-care-p...

Not sure why you think lashing out with claims of pseudo science is anything but poor behaviour and misinformation, but let's have a quick look at your claims.

1. Colonialism and Vikings would he separated by hundreds of years...

Vikings were colonists, famous colonies include Normandy, large parts of the British isles, and, Russia.

Note that they also settled in other lands.

2. The iron age comparison.

Not sure how carefully you read, but you might notice that there is a parenthesised word in my comment, (largely) indicating precisely what you are arguing i missed.

Note that i had to edit this because the phone and i disagreed on what words I was intending to use