I wonder if my parents were taught not to accept help from their parents? I think both of them grew up in homes where they were just barely getting by. I've heard some of those details but not many. I do know their financial situation was pretty dire right when they got married; I've heard some of those stories and I know it was a stressful time.
My dad has historically been very much a BOOTSTRAPS!!! sort of person; I think this may have changed a tiny bit, but I heard a lot of that when I was younger. Maybe you have to bootstrap yourself up and it's bad to have someone else help you? I don't know. It may have taken a while for that financial worry to go away, even when they were more comfortable. I don't even know exactly when that changed for them.

I saw that heirloom comment below; honestly, if I'm "expecting" anything from my parents, it would be some of my mom's Depression glass pieces. That would mean so much to me. I'm in favor of my parents taking care of themselves, helping my grandmother out when her health eventually gets worse, and doing whatever else they need to do. If I don't see any money from them in thirty years, that will be ok.