CARING for the elderly is the duty and responsibility of society because the benefits of life that we enjoy today are primarily through the toil, sacrifices, deprivation and dedication these citizens endured when they were young and more able-bodied. Therefore, it is only logical, fair and humane that when they retire into old age when inevitably all sorts of health and other problems confront them, we are there by their side.

The form of elder care provided varies greatly among countries and is changing rapidly. Even within the same country, regional differences exist with respect to the care for the elderly.

Traditionally, elder care has been the responsibility of family members and was provided within the extended family home. Increasingly in modern societies, elder care is now being provided by state or charitable institutions.

The reasons for this change include decreasing family size, the greater life expectancy of elderly people, the geographical dispersion of families, and the tendency for women to be educated and work outside the home.

Although these changes have affected European and North American countries first, it is now increasingly affecting Asian countries also.

But with improved health care, life expectancy is on the increase in many parts of the world. Consequently, there is a growing population of the elderly which is posing a challenge in many countries, particularly poor and developing countries with their limited resources.

In the wealthier countries, while resources may not be a constraint, the rapidly changing lifestyle is posing a problem.

And so many children abandon their elderly parents, exiling them to homes for the elderly where many are uncomfortable as they miss the warmth and affection of their children and grandchildren, etc.

However, some countries even with limited resources have demonstrated that it is possible to develop an effective system of caring for the elderly. Cuba is one such country despite the cruel five-decade economic embargo it is enduring coupled with natural disasters and financial constraints.
Exceeded only by the United States and Canada, Cuba is the third country of the Americas, having raised in just four decades its life expectancy, which is now 77 years.
The aging rates of the Cuban population are among the fastest of third world countries, but at the same time, Cuba makes the most efforts to guarantee this age group a good quality of life.

In Cuba, there are 1,495,000 retired people, 10 percent of the population, and almost 400,000 collect social assistance.

According to the National Budget for 2007, 3.9 billion pesos were earmarked for pensioners, a greater sum than last year’s budget equalling a seven percent growth.

Meanwhile, 1.2 billion pesos were assigned for social assistance, 5.7 percent more than in 2006. In November 2005, pensions for retired people and those on social assistance were increased to a minimum of 164 and 122 pesos, respectively.

In our country valiant efforts are being made to improve the lot of the elderly under difficult circumstances and even though government pensions are still relatively low, there has been a continuous upward mobility in this regard and surely, if and when resources allow, they will be significantly upgraded.
Of special note is that one of the first moves made by this government was the abolishing of the cruel ‘means test’ which deprived thousands of senior citizens of pensions.
The Palms, one of the major governmental institutions that house and care for the elderly in recent years, has seen steady improvements and today it has been transformed beyond recognition when compared to the dilapidated state it was in a couple of decades ago.
Only recently, a newly built facility for recreational activities and a minibus for inmates use were commissioned, demonstrating unequivocally the administration’s unswerving devotion to the quality of life that the elderly should enjoy.
Undoubtedly there is a lot more to be done in this respect but undeniably the government has demonstrated an unswerving commitment to improving the welfare of our elderly.