In rural Bangladesh, growing old can often mean growing alone. With more than 1,200 people living on every square kilometre, land and resources are extremely limited. Many families struggle to survive on small plots of land and have difficulty meeting their daily needs. Traditionally, children care for their elderly parents. Today, however, widespread poverty and the responsibility of raising large families mean that many can no longer provide this support. As a result, many older people are left to face old age alone. Many elderly people collect firewood and dry leaves from the roadside just to cook a simple meal. Some eat only once a day, and many go to bed hungry. Bangladesh has only a very limited social security system. For most elderly people, there is no pension, no regular income, and no safety net.