Respect the elders - What does it really mean?

[pavalamani pragasam]

Yes, thamiz has presented the point beautifully. The same understanding/affection/tolerance/indulgence is required to be shown towards old people and children.
The counterpart of old porter in railway station is old servantmaid doing hard menial work in many a household. (To this day I've not engaged a maid, young or old!). The wretchedness of poverty is more heartrending to see in old people than the young.