Mirtha Pérez Díaz, facing her own economic hardships in Cuba, has taken in an elderly woman who was found wandering aimlessly, with no one coming forward to claim her.
This elderly woman has been living with Mirtha for the past 15 days. Her situation was brought to light by the Cuban Observatory for Human Rights (OCDH) on their Instagram account, @observacuba, though they did not specify the exact location of the incident.
Mirtha's Struggle to Provide Care
Mirtha explained that the woman, whose identity and address remain unknown, had been wandering for nearly a year. Out of compassion, Mirtha opened her home to her but lacks the resources and physical ability to care for an elderly person.
"I've reached out for help to have her picked up, but no one has come. I've even posted on Facebook, yet her family hasn't surfaced. I've contacted the local delegate and government head, but there's no response. I'm sick myself, almost disabled since I had chikungunya. I can't take care of her," she explained.
Adding to Mirtha's health issues are her financial struggles and the challenge of feeding an additional person in her household.
Economic Hardships Intensify the Situation
"There's nothing. We have no resources. I haven't received my pension for two months. My husband works in Education and hasn't been paid for two months either. Imagine that!" Mirtha expressed with distress.
The wandering woman claims to have children in Havana but cannot provide details on their whereabouts or how to contact them. The OCDH shared a photo of her hoping someone could identify her.
The organization urged anyone who recognizes her to get in touch immediately: "If anyone knows her or how to reach her family, please contact OCDH through a private message."
A Systemic Crisis in Elderly Care
Mirtha Pérez Díaz shared that she has repeatedly sought assistance from local authorities without any response, leaving her in an unsustainable situation.
This incident is part of a broader crisis in the Cuban elderly care system, which has worsened in recent years. Cuba, with 25.7% of its population over 60, is one of the most aged countries in Latin America, amounting to around 2.5 million people.
However, the state only operates 156 elder care homes with 12,697 beds nationwide, and 51 municipalities lack any such services.
Pensions, set at a minimum of 4,000 Cuban pesos since September 2025, are worth less than 10 dollars a month on the informal market, insufficient for food, housing, and medicine.
In March 2026, the Ministry of Labor and Social Security admitted, "there are no resources to help vulnerable people," while in May 2025, the Minister of Labor acknowledged that several provinces reported a 0% budget execution in social care.
The OCDH has documented that 79% of those over 70 cannot afford three meals a day, and 99% of retirees say their pension is inadequate for their basic needs.
With the institutional collapse, neighbors—often equally vulnerable—end up caring for abandoned seniors.
Similar cases have surfaced recently. An elderly woman was found disoriented in the Playa municipality of Havana in April 2026, and another was saved by neighbors when she was near death in May of the same year.
In February 2026, the regime allowed private companies and cooperatives to open senior residences, a move seen as an implicit acknowledgment of the public system's breakdown. However, this does not address the plight of those like the elderly woman with Mirtha Pérez Díaz, left stranded without assistance.
Understanding Cuba's Elderly Care Crisis
What is the current state of elderly care in Cuba?
Cuba is experiencing a severe crisis in elderly care, with insufficient resources and facilities to support its aging population. The government operates a limited number of care homes and has admitted to lacking resources for vulnerable individuals.
How does the Cuban pension system affect the elderly?
The Cuban pension system provides minimal financial support, with pensions equating to less than 10 dollars per month on the informal market. This amount is insufficient for covering basic living expenses, leaving many elderly individuals struggling to survive.