Reverse mortgages don't prevent death. In my market, we have a lot of people of advanced age, and when they are gone entire neighborhoods will suddenly be available. From what I can tell, this is true in a surprising number of areas around the country.
They don't prevent death, they sell your house bit by bit back to the bank, until there is nothing left to inherit. And the trend these days is for financial institutions to hold housing stock as rental properties, not to put it on the market.
A reverse or lifetime mortgage means there's a reduced inheritance for the next generation. It's also a steady process meaning there's no sudden surge in supply.
"Equity release" here in the UK is how many people in my parents generation are funding their retirements.