At Casa Abuelo in Havana, Cuba. These are centers of care where elderly Cubans no longer able to work may go during the day when their family members are out. The elders can socialize, sing, dance, and create art. One goal of the Casa Abuelos is to instill elders with a sense of strength and capability despite their aches and pains and lack of “productivity.”

Capitalism does not value elderly and disabled people who are not able to work. This ideology of the ruling class penetrates our social relationships and ideas, causing society to see and treat elders as useless and irrelevant, as if they are not even present.

These elders praised the Cuban revolution for creating social services benefiting the poor and most oppressed.

Report and photos by Miranda Etel