Although everyone fears social isolation, this phenomenon is more common in lower socioeconomic statuses than in the middle or upper class. “The differences are not the result of financial situation but rather are attributable to the social skills acquired by middle-class people that allow them to develop and maintain friendships more easily” (Sullivan). There are more than 16,000 nursing homes for the elderly in the United States. Many residents are very ill and require constant supervision, this being the main reason why their family members must “enroll” them in a nursing home program. The problem is not the retirement home, but the isolation and abandonment of the family. Our society is changing so quickly that we don't know what the future will look like in six months, let alone in it 20-30