The project “Mirada al Tiempo” focuses on social programs aimed at improving the quality of life of elderly people in the city of Santiago de Cuba. For the development of this work, I collaborated with sociologist Madeline González Cadet, a representative of the Cátedra de los Adultos Mayores in the same city. During the project, I spent ten days in the places where these programs take place, participating in daily activities and visiting the homes of the elderly.

Cuba has one of the highest aging indexes in Latin America, with 19.8% of the population over the age of 60. It is estimated that by 2050, Cuba will become one of the oldest countries in the world, with more than two million adults over 60. Generational aging is influenced by several factors. On one hand, low female fertility is linked to the choice of having fewer children to avoid financial strain; on the other hand, Cuban institutions have long promoted gender equality in the workforce, reducing the traditional role of women as homemakers. Additionally, youth emigration—driven by economic difficulties—further contributes to the aging of the population. This process is also shaped by a free and functioning healthcare system, which guarantees access to free abortion services.

Given the high aging index and the projection of an even older population in the future, Cuban institutions have developed a series of programs aimed at improving the quality of life of the elderly, both physically and mentally.