In an emotional appeal published online, the Cuban Yeney Portelles Pérez is seeking help to locate the relatives of an elderly man who is alone and in a delicate condition at the Julio Trigo hospital in the Arroyo Naranjo municipality of Havana.
According to the account in the group Facebook "Compra venta Artemisa, la Habana y Mayabeque", the gentleman is desperately searching for his son, Alain Hernández Castro, as well as other relatives he mentions: his granddaughter Dávila Hernández Rostesa and his first cousin Henríquez Dávila García.
The man, named Francisco Hernández, is from Bainoa, Mayabeque, and claims that his son has some connection with the social worker at the Jaruco nursing home, known as "La Chiqui."
Yeney, who is in the hospital with her father, described the elderly man's critical situation: "He's dying and there's no care for him here; the conditions are not good and the old man urgently needs help from a family member."
In the comments section of the post, he explained that Julio Trigo welcomes people from the streets and provides them with food and clean clothing, but that many of them do have relatives who are unaware of their whereabouts or do not know that they are admitted.
"Some may not care that their family is missing; that may be the case, but others don't even know where their family is," he wrote.
The good Samaritan added that she herself has helped locate relatives of other elderly people in the ward, but the one in bed 23 in room C has been a particularly difficult case.
"He says that he does have family, but that his family does not know he is hospitalized, that he went to get his food from the nursing home where he lives and they brought him to the hospital because of his health condition, and he lost contact with his son," she explained.
The post has been shared multiple times in the hope that someone can locate the elderly man's loved ones so they can provide him with the care he needs during these critical moments. Many people were moved and expressed their concern.
Yeney has also sought help to find the relatives of Leopoldo López López, an elderly musician who was deported to Cuba in 2020 after living for several decades in the United States.
According to an explanation by the user Natasha Vázquez on Facebook, Leopoldo has three children who are American citizens, with Facebook profiles named Rico Rummba, Veronica Gwyn, and Antonio Gwyn.
They have tried to contact the three of them without any results so far.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Situation of the Elderly in Cuba
What is the current situation of the elderly in Cuba?
The situation of the elderly in Cuba is critical, as many live in conditions of abandonment and extreme poverty. The economic crisis has exacerbated begging and the lack of social care for this vulnerable group, forcing them to search for food in the trash and survive on the streets without the necessary support.
Why is begging among the elderly increasing in Cuba?
Begging among the elderly in Cuba has increased due to the deep economic crisis the country is experiencing. Inflation, shortages of basic goods, and low retirement salaries have left many seniors without enough resources to live with dignity, forcing them to seek sustenance on the streets.
What reactions have been generated by the deaths of elderly people in abandoned situations in Cuba?
The death of elderly individuals left in abandonment has sparked an avalanche of reactions filled with outrage and sadness on social media. Many Cubans criticize the government for its inability to care for its most vulnerable population and mourn the reality of the elderly who die without support or dignity on the streets.
How does the economic crisis in Cuba affect the elderly population?
The economic crisis in Cuba severely affects the elderly population, leaving them in a situation of extreme vulnerability. The lack of resources, medical and social care, along with the migration of family members, worsens their situation, leaving them without the necessary support to survive.
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