A Cuban identified as Berta Noriega Wencomo was found dead inside her home in the El Fructuoso neighborhood of Cárdenas, Matanzas, after having been deceased for several days without anyone noticing.
The case, , moved those who knew her and sparked the debate on the neglect faced by the elderly in Cuba.
It was his brother who raised the alarm. After not hearing from "Betty" for days, he went to the house and had to find a ladder to gain entry. What he discovered inside confirmed his worst fears.
The body was in an advanced state of decomposition, which necessitated the presence of the firefighters. According to testimony gathered by Arbolaez, for much of the day, there was no hearse available to transport the remains.
"It wasn't until around 10:00 p.m. that police, firefighters, and a hearse arrived there," the activist recounted. Due to the conditions of the discovery, Betty had to be buried immediately.
Those who knew her remember her differently: as "that pretty little mulatta who always wore her hair in a bun," an elegant, cheerful, and proud woman.
He had worked as a telephone operator, but at one point in his life, he left his job to take care of his parents. After losing both of them, he returned to work, although over time he became ill with thyroid issues.
Without children and without her parents, Betty faced her final years alone. She struggled to access food, obtain medication, and receive medical care, and lacked the resources to repair her home.
"She finally died alone, and several days passed before her absence raised alarm," wrote Arbolaez.
The case reflects a humanitarian crisis that is devouring the elderly in Cuba: insufficient pensions, scarce medications, and a social care system lacking resources.
The Ministry of Labor and Social Security itself has acknowledged that "there are no resources to assist vulnerable individuals."
The massive emigration in recent years has worsened the problem by leaving thousands of elderly people without a support network.
Cuba has only 156 nursing homes and 12,697 beds available for the entire island, and 51 municipalities lack this service. In Matanzas, the province where Betty lived, the situation is particularly severe: over 300,000 residents do not have a stable water supply.
It is not the first case to shake public opinion. Elderly individuals found dead in their homes or on the street have become a recurring image in various provinces of the country.
The international press has highlighted the neglect of elderly Cubans, and the UN warned in May 2026 that , with a systemic impact on health, water, sanitation, and transportation.
A friend of Betty bid her farewell with words that captured the sentiments of those who knew her: she recalled that joyful and elegant woman from days gone by and wished her that, "after so much solitude on Earth, she may now find companionship in heaven."
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