“To be clear with you, we are experiencing more hunger than a tied-up dog.” This is how Rafael, a 76-year-old Cuban, describes the poverty he lives in alongside his wife, an elderly woman who is bedridden and whom he cares for in a dilapidated home, lacking sufficient resources and with part of the roof destroyed by a cyclone.
Her story was brought to light by Melissa, a young content creator residing in Holguín, known on social media as Melissahabla, who has been helping people in need within her community for some time and is now trying to find a home where the couple can spend their final years in peace.
In a video shared on Instagram, Melissa introduces Rafael and his wife, who have been together for nearly 30 years and are facing a situation of extreme hardship.
The images show a home with deteriorated structures, blackened kitchen utensils, and makeshift spaces to address daily needs.
It is the story of two Cuban grandparents who live in extreme poverty, explains the young woman while presenting the case. «Today they find themselves completely helpless and are crying out for help».
Rafael shares that he is a bricklayer and that, despite his age, he still looks for occasional work to earn some money. Among the tasks he mentions is land clearing, but he explains that he cannot stay outside for long because he needs to take care of his wife.
"The work here is what it is. Just clearing and doing... leaving the old woman alone, bedridden, and I can't stay out on the street for too long," he recounts.
One of his greatest concerns is the state of the housing. As he explains, a cyclone destroyed the roof, and since then he has not been able to get the necessary help to repair it.
"The cyclone took away the entire roof. No one here has helped me, and no one has done anything for us," he says, showing the damage.
The elderly man insists that the lack of attention to his situation is particularly painful when he hears discussions about protecting older adults.
"They're talking about the elderly, the elderly... Look, look at how we are, look, and here no one is stopping for anything," she expresses indignantly.
The possibility of another cyclone also fills him with fear. With his wife bedridden and himself limited by age, Rafael does not know how they could protect themselves in the face of another emergency.
"That is my fear, I was saying: 'Oh my God, let a cyclone not come here because we can't move!'" she confesses.
However, the testimony does not solely revolve around hunger and deprivation. Amid the scenes of poverty, there also appears the story of a marriage that has remained united for nearly three decades and of a man who refuses to abandon his partner.
When Melissa asks him if the woman lying down is the love of his life, Rafael responds without hesitation: "That girl."
Then, visibly moved, he explains why he remains by her side despite all the difficulties.
"Love overwhelms me, and that is what she has given me. Ever since we’ve been together, it's been a lifetime. That’s why I have to die with her by my side. Die and move forward," he says.
The man reveals that his wife is 18 years older than him, an age difference that has never been an obstacle for their relationship.
“She is 18 years older than me, but I feel 50 in love for her,” he asserts.
Rafael also shares that he has sought comfort in his faith. He claims to have asked for help from the Virgin and Saint Lazarus, hoping that something will change for both of them.
"I already asked her and San Lázaro as well to do something for us," she expresses.
Her desperation is marked by the loss of what little they had. "We lost everything we had, even the roof over our heads," she laments.
During the visit, Melissa and those accompanying her delivered disposable diapers and 10,000 Cuban pesos, according to a message included in the video.
Although the assistance helps relieve some immediate needs, the young woman believes that the situation requires a more lasting solution: finding suitable housing where Rafael and his wife can stay together.
"They need a home," Melissa wrote in the message accompanying the post.
"Older adults should not live in these conditions, neither in Cuba nor in any country in the world," he added.
The content creator explained that the marriage is facing many hardships and asked her followers to share the story to reach people who can help.
“Help me find them a home where they can live out their final years in peace and tranquility,” she requested.
Despite the deterioration of his home, the shortage of food, and uncertainty about the future, Rafael holds onto a conviction he repeats throughout the conversation: "Hope is never lost."
The story of this couple reflects a situation that affects many elderly adults in Cuba, where inadequate pensions, rising food prices, and a lack of resources to maintain homes have worsened the living conditions of an increasingly aging population.
In July, a report on the living conditions of the elderly in Cuba revealed how the loss of purchasing power, the scarcity of food and medicine, and the emigration of family members have left many retirees in vulnerable situations.
According to data from the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI) mentioned in that report, by the end of 2024, 25.7% of the Cuban population was 60 years old or older, a figure that highlights the extent of the demographic aging of the Island.
Another report by Reuters published in June highlighted the struggles of individuals who worked for decades and are now surviving on insufficient pensions to meet their most basic needs.
Among the testimonies was that of an 85-year-old man who had worked at the Ministry of Social Security and expressed feeling abandoned. The man recounted episodes of hunger and difficulties even in receiving medical care.
Food insecurity was also evident in the case of a Cuban retiree who had no money to buy rice while he awaited his pension payment. A citizen who visited his home ended up providing financial assistance so he could purchase food.
In September, several elderly individuals interviewed about how they envisioned their old age described a reality characterized by scarcity, hunger, and the need to continue working. A woman approaching her 82nd birthday lamented that she had anticipated a peaceful phase, but her situation turned out to be very different.
The lack of food has led other elderly individuals to rely on charity. In July, a 92-year-old woman was recorded asking for a few coins on the street to be able to pay for her lunch at a dining hall.
There are also difficulties in accessing pension funds. In Santiago de Cuba, several retirees were photographed sleeping on the floor in front of a bank branch overnight, waiting to be able to collect their pensions the next day.
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