Marrage inequality in age

Several recent news blurbs from Asia points out the secondary effects of breakdown of the family, I'll post them on differing days.

From March 18 10 Unbelieveable Wedding & Marriage Records

"Greatest age difference in marriage: The Straits Times reported in November 2006 that Sudar Marto of Malaysia, 105, married Ely Maryulianti Rahmat, a 22-year-old maid, in September. That's an 83-year age difference! At the time, Sudar was still married to his 69-year-old bedridden wife, who welcomed Ely into their union because she appreciated the young girl's caregiving." So the man isn't taking the woman as his wife, but rather strictly as a home health aide. Anyone else noticed there is a good 35 year gap between the bedridden wife and the husband. And you have to wonder if there was a wife before that, in which the 69 year old wife was once the 'young girl'? Where are the children, nieces, and nephews to ensure the well being of the elders?

Of course spouses take care of each other in 'their' old age, as in plural. But we know that one spouse will eventually become window or widower, and immolating yourself at your husband's death seems doesn't seem to be ideal or appealing. I'm sure many elderly and not so elderly can attest to life after the death of the spouse, isn't the end of the world but rather something expect and a natural part of life.

I've never been a fan of May/December relationships here in the United States. Yes, young men are more immature then ever, but dating older men only perpetuates the problem. I worry about financial disparity, one of the nice things marrying someone your age is significant financial equality and a sense of fairness as resources merge at marriage. Of course it may change through out the marriage, still an understanding that their isn't mine/yours, but financially responsibly ours.