In the elderly years how do the elderly see loved ones who won't take the time to come see them?

that is a really sad situation for anyone who's elderly.

With great disappointment I imagine.  I always visited my grandparents and my children visit their grandparents, when possible and they phone them just occasionally, and will write a letter (usually to say thankyou for a gift).  Sadly, many families are all spread out around their country or the world and cannot all meet up regularly. When I was a teenager I had a grandma (widowed) who lived 2 miles away, another grandma and grandad lived a similar distance away but in the opposite direction. All aunts, uncles and cousins lived a maximum of 4 miles away. No one ever had any excuse to not see each other fairly regularly.

I am very fortunate because my grandchildren have all continued to live in the same area but that is now very rare because many people work long distances from their birth family.  That is why some families have become very fractured.  Having to visit long distance often incurs overnight stays in hotels which makes the visits very expensive.  Such visits have become rare treats rather than the normal family activity.