I suspect parents, who say they don’t want to depend on their children, are being sarcastic/going on a guilt trip/doing reverse psychology. Obviously, that has backfired. Because their kids believe what they want to believe, yes?, and take the easy way out.

Another viewpoint: parents have been too indulgent that their kids have become self-centred. Or they have an emotionally estranged relationship with their parents.

At the end of the day, as a child, ask yourself: what’s the right, even if difficult, thing to do? And when you have your own family, build strong emotional ties. Only then taking care of one’s parents will come naturally.